In 2013, the Philippines invoked the UNCLOS to test the legality of China’s ‘nine-dash line’ regarding the disputed Spratlys. In this response, the PCA ruled in favour of the Philippines and sited the line had “no legal basis”. However, China dismissed the judgement “null and void”. The South China Sea holds great importance, not just to its littoral countries as it has been a transit point in the trade since the early medieval period but also contains abundant rich fisheries and repository of mineral deposit and Hydrocarbons.
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