US supports South China Sea ruling as final: Yonhap

By Park Sae-jin Posted : July 13, 2016, 08:25 Updated : July 13, 2016, 08:25

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. [AP/Yonhap News Photo]


The United States said that an international tribunal's ruling on the territorial disputes in the South China Sea is "final and legally binding on both China and the Philippines", as tensions between the two superpowers rose higher.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague delivered the verdict rejecting China's claims to most of the South China Sea. The verdict was a victory for the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations locked in maritime disputes with China.

Beijing immediately rejected the ruling, saying it does not accept or recognize it.

"When joining the Law of the Sea Convention, parties agree to the convention's compulsory dispute settlement process to resolve disputes. In today's decision and in its decision from October of last year, the tribunal unanimously found that the Philippines was acting within its rights under the convention in initiating this arbitration," State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

"As provided in the convention, the tribunal's decision is final and legally binding on both China and the Philippines. The United States expresses its hope and expectation that both parties will comply with their obligations," he said.

(Yonhap)
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