Radio Baghdad

Listen To Live Radio
Now Playing
Oct, 14 2024
Popular Articles
iraqi-economic-development-strategies

Iraqi Economic Development Strategies


Part IAs Iraq moves through its next developmental phase...482749
amer-fatuhi-interview-2020

Amer Fatuhi - Interview 2020


An exclusive interview with the Prominent Scholar Dr. Amer Hanna...188254
healthy-food

Healthy Food


Like any other product, healthy foods need to be marketed...44535
who-killed-soad-hosny

Who Killed Soad Hosny?


The family of the late Egyptian actress, the Cinderella of Arab...28438
us-launches-cruise-missile-strike-on-syria

US Launches Cruise Missile Strike on Syria


On President Donald Trump's order, two Navy destroyers in the...22942
the-iraqi-british-architect-zaha-hadid

The Iraqi-British Architect Zaha Hadid


“I am the product of an amazing Iraqi environment and an...22730
iraqi-parliament-denies-a-local-detroit-winner-christian-of-the-iraqi-national-flag-contest

Iraqi Parliament Denies a Local Detroit Winner (Christian) of the Iraqi National Flag Contest!


The Iraqi Government is working on adopting a new National Flag...21890
a-new-rare-guest-at-baghdad-zoo

A New Rare Guest At Baghdad Zoo


Baghdad’s municipality has announced the birth of what it says...20775
iraqi-economic-development-strategies-part-ii

Iraqi Economic Development Strategies, Part II


DIVERSIFICATIONIraq is currently a rentier state. By...20149
the-chaldean-renaissance

THE CHALDEAN RENAISSANCE


Basic Outline of a Vision By Bishop Mar Sarhad Y. Jammo  I-...19612
rxte-black-holes-pulsars-oh-my

RXTE - Black Holes & Pulsars - Oh My!


Black holes and pulsars are two of the most mysterious (and...19510
iraq-country-profile

Iraq country profile


Iraq, in an area once home to some of the earliest...18683
review-of-amer-hanna-fatuhi-the-untold-story-of-native-iraqis

Review of Amer Hanna-Fatuhi: THE UNTOLD STORY OF NATIVE IRAQIS


Review of Amer Hanna-Fatuhi:THE UNTOLD STORY OF NATIVE IRAQIS:...17819
unesco-iraq-best-practices-in-education-reform

Unesco & Iraq - Best Practices In Education Reform


UNESCO Office for Iraq In the framework of the Iraqi Public...17713
oil-exports-decline-to-cause-deficit-in-2014-budget-says-sa-ad

Oil exports decline to cause deficit in 2014 budget, says Sa’ad


Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Member of the parliament Oil &...16376
iraqi-dentist-suhair-al-qaisi-the-most-beloved-media-face-in-the-arabic-speaking-world-screen

Iraqi Dentist Suhair al-Qaisi, The Most Beloved Media Face in the Arabic Speaking World Screen!


Introduction: Suhair al-Qaisi was born in 1985 in Baghdad, Iraq...14565
islam-karimov-turkey-announces-uzbek-leader-s-death

Islam Karimov: Turkey announces Uzbek leader's death


Uzbek President Islam Karimov, one of Asia's most...14026
u-s-working-to-confirm-it-killed-top-isis-leader-again
U.S. working to confirm it...
unesco-iraq-best-practices-in-education-reform
Unesco & Iraq - Best...
donald-trump-selects-mike-pence-as-vp
Donald Trump selects Mike...
hillary-clinton-questioned-by-fbi-on-emails
Hillary Clinton questioned by...
eu-referendum-final-push-for-votes-on-last-day-of-campaign
EU referendum: Final push for...
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 5.00 (1 Vote)

An international tribunal has ruled against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea, backing a case brought by the Philippines.


The Permanent Court of Arbitration said there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources.

China called the ruling "ill-founded" and says it will not be bound by it.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including reefs and islands also claimed by others.

The tribunal in The Hague said China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights. It also said China had caused "severe harm to the coral reef environment" by building artificial islands.

The ruling came from an arbitration tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which both countries have signed.

It ruled on seven of 15 points brought by the Philippines. Among the key findings were:

  • Fishermen from the Philippines and China both had fishing rights around the disputed Scarborough Shoal area, and China had interfered by restricting access
  • China had "destroyed evidence of the natural condition of features in the South China Sea" that formed part of the dispute
  • Transient use of features above water did not constitute inhabitation - one of the key conditions for claiming land rights of 200 nautical miles, rather than the 12 miles granted for rocks visible at high tide.
  • The ruling is binding but the Permanent Court of Arbitration has no powers of enforcement.

 

The dispute

The Philippines has had diplomatic spats with China over the Scarborough Shoal and Spratlys in particular.

It says China's "nine-dash line", which China uses to demarcate its territorial claims, is unlawful under the UNCLOS convention.

Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei also have competing claims in the region.

Although these islands are largely uninhabited, they may have reserves of natural resources around them. There has been little detailed exploration of the area, so estimates are largely extrapolated from the mineral wealth of neighbouring areas.

The sea is also a major shipping route and home to fishing grounds that supply the livelihoods of people across the region.

Reaction

As expected, China is standing firm and re-asserting its claim to the area.

"China's territorial sovereignty and marine rights in the South China Sea will not be affected by the so-called Philippines South China Sea ruling in any way," said Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He said China was "determined to maintain peace and stability" and was committed to resolving disputes "through negotiations based on respects to historical facts and according to international laws".

China's state news agency Xinhua said that "as the panel has no jurisdiction, its decision is naturally null and void".

But Philippe Sands, a lawyer for the Philippines in the case, said it was a "clear and unanimous judgement that upholds the rule of law and the rights claimed by the Philippines".

The Philippine government says it is now studying the ruling.

However, the BBC's Jonah Fisher, in Manila, says the lack of celebrations may be a result of the recent change of government.

Our correspondent says many Filipinos believe newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte may have sought promises of Chinese investment, in return for a quiet, dignified response.

The US called the decision an "important contribution to the shared goal of a peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China Sea", and urged all parties to consider it "final and legally binding".

Taiwan, which also claims the disputed area, said the ruling had "seriously damaged" its rights.

"We hereby solemnly state that we will definitely not accept this ruling," the foreign ministry said.

The US sent an aircraft carrier and fighter jets to the region ahead of the decision, while the Chinese navy has been carrying out exercises near the disputed Paracel islands.

Conciliatory tone - Stephen McDonell, BBC News, Beijing

This result represents a major loss of face for China, and yet the first response from Beijing to the UN tribunal's demolition of its claims seems be rather conciliatory.

On the one hand, the Chinese government has re-stated that it has territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the area and that the activities of its people there date back to over 2,000 years ago.

However, it then goes on to talk about "consultation with the states directly concerned" and proposes "joint development in relevant maritime areas".

Airlines and shipping companies will be pleased to hear that China has also restated that it respects "freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all states under international law in the South China Sea" and that it stands ready to ensure "unimpeded access to international shipping lanes".

All this seems to point towards Beijing possibly seeking some sort of negotiated settlement rather than ramping up the pressure on the Philippines following Manila's comprehensive victory in The Hague.

 

BBC >

Add comment



Anti-spam: complete the task
An exclusive interview with the Prominent Scholar Dr. Amer Hanna Fatuhi By Uruk Shendaj  
Lessons from Iraq’s War 2003 - 2011 Despite the fact that there are almost 2000 spoken Arabic dialects in the Arabic [...]
Sun, Rain, & Loving Heartbeats The Art of Annie Salatyan
When it comes to life, Iraq is the first and the final frontier for all humanity. This is a fact no maters how many [...]
  A New Achievement by the Historian & Visual Artist Amer Hanna Fatuhi   The Eastern Aramaic Font | The [...]
The Art of AMER HANNA FATUHI Artist, Poet, & Professional Writer - Short Bio
Amer Fatuhi - Interview June 2017 by Annie Salatyan
DoD Linguists' recruitment With Amer Fatuhi
اعتراف - Confession by Amer Fatuhi
شكرا - Thank You by Amer Fatuhi
دال - Dal by Amer Fatuhi
موهومه - Delusional by Amer Fatuhi
On President Donald Trump's order, two Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea fired salvos of Tomahawk [...]
The Yale University Art Gallery is celebrating the 175th anniversary of the field of Arabic studies at Yale [...]
دندنه - Dandana by Amer Fatuhi
More Articles
a-new-achievement-by-the-historian-visual-artist-amer-hanna-fatuhi

A New Achievement by the Historian & Visual Artist Amer Hanna Fatuhi


  A New Achievement by the Historian & Visual Artist Amer...8225
life-wins-amer-hanna-fatuhi

Life Wins - Amer Hanna Fatuhi


When it comes to life, Iraq is the first and the final...9806
the-art-of-amer-hanna-fatuhi

The Art of AMER HANNA FATUHI


The Art of AMER HANNA FATUHI Artist, Poet, & Professional...6444
carlos-santana-pokes-beyhive-says-beyonce-not-a-singer

Carlos Santana Pokes Beyhive, Says Beyoncé ‘Not a Singer’


UPDATE: On Tuesday night, Santana walked back his comments...8016
russia-s-putin-calls-leaked-trump-memos-utter-nonsense

Russia's Putin calls leaked Trump memos 'utter nonsense'


Russian President Vladimir Putin has described allegations his...6468
us-election-2016-results-meet-president-trump-s-possible-cabinet

US election 2016 results: Meet President Trump's possible cabinet


It's Washington DC's favourite new parlour game - guessing who...6438
us-election-trump-presidency-dangerous-says-un-rights-chief

US election: Trump presidency 'dangerous', says UN rights chief


Donald Trump's "deeply unsettling and disturbing" views make...6815
hurricane-matthew-strongest-storm-since-2004-nears-florida

Hurricane Matthew: Strongest storm since 2004 nears Florida


Hurricane Matthew has strengthened as it nears a "direct hit"...12202
new-jersey-train-crash-many-injured-at-hoboken-station

New Jersey train crash: Many injured at Hoboken station


A commuter train has crashed into a rail station in the city...11528
remembering-september-11th

Remembering September 11th


We Will Never Forget … We Will Never Forgive Please Tell...5903
trump-pledges-big-us-military-expansion

Trump pledges big US military expansion


Donald Trump has said he will expand all areas of the US...6434
happy-labor-day

HAPPY LABOR DAY


  THE WAR BETWEEN GOOD & EVIL IS NOT OVER YET! Do not...6079
islam-karimov-turkey-announces-uzbek-leader-s-death

Islam Karimov: Turkey announces Uzbek leader's death


Uzbek President Islam Karimov, one of Asia's most...14026
rio-olympics-2016-did-brazil-pass-or-fail-its-big-test

Rio Olympics 2016: Did Brazil pass or fail its big test?


Billed beforehand as the "Carnival Games" full of happy fans,...6284
oil-price-gushers-as-opec-brings-bulls-back-into-market

Oil price gushers as OPEC brings bulls back into market


Oil prices surged dramatically in the last two weeks thanks to...10778
trump-to-lay-out-plan-for-combating-radical-islamic-terrorism

Trump to lay out plan for combating radical Islamic terrorism


Donald Trump on Monday will lay out his strategy for defeating...7333
putin-offers-turkey-s-erdogan-closer-ties

Putin offers Turkey's Erdogan closer ties


Russia is ready to restore economic co-operation and other...11410
trump-is-chagrined-and-realizes-his-campaign-is-in-trouble-steve-forbes-says

Trump is ‘chagrined' and realizes his campaign is in trouble, Steve Forbes says


Donald Trump has an opportunity to get his campaign back on...9209
yusra-mardini-refugee-swimmer-off-to-flying-start-after-pope-francis-sends-letter

Yusra Mardini: Refugee swimmer off to flying start after Pope Francis sends letter


(CNN) Ahead of competing at the Olympic Games in Rio de...9351
here-s-what-the-real-unemployment-rate-looks-like

Here's what the real unemployment rate looks like


The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 4.9 percent in July,...10291
emirates-plane-crash-lands-at-dubai-airport

Emirates plane crash-lands at Dubai airport


An Emirates plane has crash-landed at Dubai International...10566
a-clinton-bounce-a-trumpian-weekend-how-the-race-looks-now

A Clinton bounce, a Trumpian weekend: How the race looks now


Donald Trump just suffered through a brutal weekend. by Ben...9388
the-moment-american-muslims-have-been-waiting-for-khizr-khan

The moment American Muslims have been waiting for, Khizr Khan


Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, has proposed...7650
obama-endorses-clinton-as-political-heir

Obama endorses Clinton as political heir


US President Barack Obama has delivered a stirring speech at...6642