[OPINION] Why China won’t just leave out the Philippines

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This opinion piece discusses the upcoming 10th anniversary of the 2013 arbitral ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, which largely supported the Philippines' claims against China in the South China Sea. The article outlines the background of the dispute, noting China's historical claims over the region through its 'nine-dash line,' which it asserts covers approximately 85%-90% of the South China Sea. The Philippines argued that China's claims lacked legal validity under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly regarding the classification of certain maritime features as non-islands and the illegality of overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZs). The tribunal rejected China's claims, citing that UNCLOS supersedes historical claims and that China's occupation of maritime features such as reefs and rocks does not grant them EEZ or jurisdictional rights. The article criticizes China's rejection of the ruling and its subsequent militarization efforts, including the construction of artificial islands, arguing that these actions do not alter the legal status of the disputed features.

Lectura del sesgo (Izquierda): The article frames the arbitration ruling as a significant legal victory for the Philippines and criticizes China's rejection of the ruling and its militarization efforts. It emphasizes the legality of the Philippines' stance under UNCLOS and portrays China's actions as violations of international法,