International court starts proceedings over PH claim to disputed waters

From https://www.pca-cpa.org

MANILA, Philippines –The Arbitral Tribunal handling the case of the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China has adopted its formal Rules of Procedure and has set an initial timetable following its decision to “act as the registry in the proceedings.”

“In the first Procedural Order, the Arbitral Tribunal formally adopts the Rules of Procedure and fixes March 30, 2014 as the date on which the Philippines should submit its Memorial,” the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) said in a statement released August 27.

The PCA is an international organization in The Hague, Netherlands that provides arbitration and resolution of disputes between states. The Philippines sought for arbitration proceedings under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) following a dispute with China over ownership of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

“The Arbitral Tribunal directs the Philippines to fully address all issues, including matters relating to the jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal, the admissibility of the Philippines’ claim, as well as the merits of the dispute,” PCA said in its statement.

China claims the entire West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) as part of its territory, including the Spratlys Group of Islands near Palawan province, Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag shoal or Scarborough shoal), and Ayungin Shoal which as within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

Philippine authorities last April 2012 caught Chinese fishing vessels illegally poaching endemic Philippine marine species in Scarborough shoal but were blocked off by Chinese Maritime Security vessels causing a month-long standoff.

Chines vessels have reportedly been entering Philippine territorial waters repeatedly over the past months.

China has repeatedly refused to participate in the arbitration insisting on bilateral talks.

The PCA cited that “on August 1, 2013, China addressed a Note Verbale to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in which it reiterated its position that “it does not accept the arbitration initiated by the Philippines’ and stated that it was not participating in the proceedings.”

“The Arbitral Tribunal will determine the further course of the proceedings, including the need for and scheduling of any other written submissions and hearings, at an appropriate later stage, after seeking the views of the Parties,” the PCA said.

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