Philippines v. China: Laying Down the Law of the Sea

As the deadline for the landmark international court ruling on the South China Sea territorial dispute draws near, a recent editorial in a Chinese state run newspaper proclaimed that China should prepare for “military confrontation” in the South China Sea. While the foreign ministry was quick to reiterate China’s commitment to peace in the region, it has been equally clear on its course of action. In addition to stating it will not abide by any ruling released by The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 12^th, China has announced it will engage in naval drills within the disputed area from July 5^th through the 11^th in the days leading up to the court’s decision. It appears China is willing to back up its words with actions. What remains to be seen is how far Beijing will go to defend a claim that the international court is unlikely to uphold.

China’s territorial claim over much of the South China Sea originates with the nine-dash line, a cartographic creation that predates the Chinese civil war (1927-1950) and has remained at the center of regional disagreements ever since. More recently, the nine-dash line has become the center of an important case in international law. In 2013, the Philippines filed charges against China in international court in response to China’s seizure of Scarborough Shoal and the failure of bilateral negotiations.