Shafaqna Pakistan: The United States, the United Kingdom and 12 other countries on Sunday reaffirmed that China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea are illegal under the 2016 international arbitration ruling.
In a joint statement, the 14 nations rejected what they described as “destabilising” actions in the disputed waters, warning that they threaten regional peace and stability. Separately, the European Union reaffirmed the 2016 ruling as a landmark decision for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The statements marked the anniversary of the July 12, 2016, tribunal ruling under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, describing it as final and legally binding.
China, however, reiterated that it considers the ruling “null and void” and said it neither accepts nor recognises the decision.
China refused to join the arbitration initiated by the Philippines in 2013 after a tense standoff in the contested waters a year earlier that ended with Beijing effectively seizing a disputed shoal.
Beijing rejected the 2016 ruling and continues to defend its claims to virtually the entire sea passage, a key global trade route that has long been feared as one of Asia’s most active flashpoints. The areas has been the scene of repeated territorial standoffs involving China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
“We reaffirm the Arbitral Tribunal’s decision that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including those based on `historic rights,’” the U.S.-led statement said.
The arbitration tribunal largely decided in favor of the Philippines, ruling then that under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, “there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources” in the South China Sea outside of its regular territorial areas recognized under the convention.
The convention, largely regarded as the treaty governing the world’s oceans and seas, took effect in 1994 and has been ratified by more than 170 countries and parties, including China and the Philippines.
In addition to the U.S. and Britain, the other countries listed in Sunday’s statement were the Philippines, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia.
“We reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region,” they said.
The nations stressed “our strong opposition to the use of coast guard, military and maritime militia forces to harass, obstruct, intimidate lawful operations by other states at sea or in the air and in so doing endanger the safety of personnel and fishermen and seriously degrade regional peace and security.”
“Freedom of navigation and overflight as well as other internationally lawful uses of the sea as reflected in UNCLOS” must be upheld, the countries said, adding that the territorial disputes should be resolved peacefully based on the 1982 U.N. convention.
In Beijing, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the arbitration tribunal and its ruling “seriously contravene the general practice of international arbitration” and “gravely infringe upon China’s legitimate rights as a sovereign state and state party to UNCLOS and are unjust and unlawful.”
Source: Dunya News
