News

The Latest: Ex-Philippine President Aquino hails ruling

Posted July 13, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

In this photo taken March 30, 2014, a Philippine Marine, right, swims in the waters of Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. An international tribunal has found that there is no legal basis for China's claiming rights to much of the South China Sea. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) issued its ruling Tuesday, July 12, 2016, in The Hague in response to an arbitration case brought by the Philippines against China regarding the South China Sea, saying that any historic rights to resources that China may have had were wiped out if they are incompatible with exclusive economic zones established under a U.N. treaty. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) The Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) - The Latest on an international tribunal's ruling on the case filed by the Philippines against China's claims in the South China Sea (all times local):

1:40 p.m.

Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, who brought the case against China in 2013, says the arbitration tribunal's ruling in favor of the Philippines brought clarity to the South China Sea disputes.

He says the ruling "now establishes better conditions that enable countries to engage each other, bearing in mind their duties and rights within a context that espouses equality and amity."

Aquino says cooperation, however, will remain elusive if conflicts over claims persist.

China refuses to recognize the tribunal's decision that it violated the Philippines' maritime rights by building up artificial islands that destroyed coral reefs and by disrupting fishing and oil exploration.

Aquino's successor, Rodrigo Duterte, has taken a softer line against Beijing, saying he's open to bilateral talks.

___

1 p.m.

A senior Chinese official says Beijing reserves the right to declare an Air Defense Identification Zone over the South China Sea, a move that would sharply escalate tensions in the disputed territory.

Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told reporters Wednesday: "China has the right to do so . China has established an ADIZ over the East China Sea."

He says such a move will be based on the level of threat against China.

He says, "If our security is being threatened, of course we have the right to demarcate a zone. This would depend on our overall assessment."

He also says China hopes other countries will not take this opportunity to threaten China and "we hope that they will work with China to protect the peace and stability of the South China Sea, and not let the South China Sea become the origin of a war."

China's ADIZ over the East China Sea is not recognized by the U.S. and others.

___

10 a.m.

A day after an international tribunal said China had no legal basis for its expansive claim to the South China Sea, Beijing issued a policy paper saying the islands in the South China Sea are "China's inherent territory".

In a policy paper released Wednesday, China's government asserted its sovereignty over the islands and their surrounding waters and opposes other countries' "illegal claims and occupation."

"It is the Philippines that has created and stirred up the trouble," said Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, in introducing the paper.

The paper blamed the Philippines for violating an agreement with China to settle the disputes through bilateral negotiation and said Manila "distorted facts and concocted a pack of lies" to push forward the arbitral proceedings.

8:20 a.m.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Wednesday that China's reputation and ambitions of becoming a world leader would suffer if it ignored the South China Sea ruling.

Bishop called on all parties to respect the ruling, which she described as final and legally binding.

"To ignore it would be a serious international transgression," Bishop told Australian Broadcasting Corp. "There would be strong reputational costs."

Bishop said she expected to speak with her counterparts in China and the Philippines in coming days and expected the ruling to be discussed at the upcoming ASEAN and East Asia Summit meetings in mid-July.

She said Australian ships and aircraft would continue to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight rights but refused to comment on specific details.

5:35 a.m.

China's ambassador to the U.S. says an international tribunal ruling that rejected its expansive claims over the South China Sea will intensify conflict and could lead to confrontation.

Ambassador Cui Tiankai (sway tee-ehn k-eye) also accused the Hague-based tribunal of "professional incompetence" saying it was dealing with a sovereignty dispute, which is beyond its jurisdiction.

The case was brought by the Philippines, a U.S. ally.

Cui was speaking at a Washington think tank hours after the tribunal issued its ruling Monday.

U.S. officials say the ruling will narrow the geographical scope of territorial disputes in the South China Sea and could provide an impetus for fresh diplomacy among the claimant nations.

Cui said China always supports negotiations among the concerned parties, but the ruling will undermine the possibility of diplomacy.

FILE - This May 11, 2015, file photo, shows land reclamation of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. An international tribunal has found that there is no legal basis for China's claiming rights to much of the South China Sea. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) issued its ruling Tuesday, July 12, 2016, in The Hague in response to an arbitration case brought by the Philippines against China regarding the South China Sea, saying that any historic rights to resources that China may have had were wiped out if they are incompatible with exclusive economic zones established under a U.N. treaty. (Ritchie B. Tongo/Pool Photo via AP, File) The Associated Press

Journalists gather outside the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, ahead of a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the dispute between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea. China has intensified the drumbeat of its opposition to an international tribunal's ruling expected Tuesday that could threaten its expansive claims in the South China Sea. (AP Photo/Mike Corder) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2015, file photo, provided by Filipino fisherman Renato Etac, a Chinese Coast Guard boat circles a Filipino fishing boat near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. China has intensified the drumbeat of its opposition to a milestone ruling expected Tuesday July 12, 2016, by an international tribunal that could threaten its expansive claims in the South China Sea. (Renato Etac via AP, File ) The Associated Press

Filipinos applaud moments after the Hague-based U.N. international arbitration tribunal's ruling favoring the Philippines in its case against China on the dispute in South China Sea Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in Manila, Philippines. The international tribunal has found that there is no legal basis for China's "nine-dash line" claiming rights to much of the South China Sea. The tribunal issued its ruling Tuesday in The Hague in response to an arbitration case brought by the Philippines against China. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) The Associated Press

Protesters display placards by Manila's breakwater hours before the Hague-based UN international arbitration tribunal announced its ruling on South China Sea Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in the financial district of Makati city east of Manila, Philippines. The protesters are urging China "to respect the Philippines' rights over its exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf" as mandated by the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) The Associated Press

Vietnamese expatriates cross the street while displaying placards following a brief rally a few hours before the Hague-based UN international arbitration tribunal announced its ruling on South China Sea Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in Manila, Philippines. The Vietnamese are supporting the Philippines' case it filed before the international tribunal on China's nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers Nation and World News

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.