Sea dispute: Manila lodges plea with UN
Play
The Philippines pressed ahead with its formal plea before a United Nations tribunal, contesting China's vast claims over the South China Sea, amid another tense stand-off at a disputed rocky outcrop and a fresh barrage of threats from Beijing.
In a 4,000-page “memorial” – diplomatic speak for “memorandum” – sent to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Manila alleges that China’s “nine-dash line” claims areas far beyond its borders.
That line encloses 90 per cent of the 3.5 million sq km South China Sea and spreads deep into territories claimed not just by the Philippines, but also by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Manila maintains that the areas in the South China Sea that Beijing insists are part of its territories extend as far as 1,611km from the nearest Chinese shore, violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is asking the international tribunal to recognise its exclusive economic zone, which extends 370km from Philippine shores, overlapping many of the shoals, reefs and islets that have been the sites of tense stand-offs between Manila and Beijing.
The memorial consists of 4,000 pages spread over 10 volumes that contain Manila’s arguments, evidence and maps.
Legal experts say that while legally binding, any ruling will effectively be unenforceable, as there is no peacekeeping force that can compel China to obey it.
Still, Paul Reichler, the Philippines’ lead counsel in the case, said losing parties comply “at least 95 per cent” of the time.
On Saturday, four Chinese coastguard vessels tried to block two Philippine navy boats sent to re-supply marines stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a ship Manila ran aground in 1999 on the Second Thomas Shoal to stake its claim. The Philippine boats managed to reach the grounded ship, but not until after two Chinese ships cut off their paths twice.
