Some 20-33% of global trade by sea passes through the South China Sea. It is also home to rich fishing grounds.
Located in Southeast Asia, the South China Sea is claimed almost in its entirety by China, through what it calls the nine-dash line. China has over time militarized many low-lying islands and coral reefs in the area. But five years ago today, an international court effectively ruled Chinese claims to be illegal. Particularly in regards to Scarborough shoal, a low-lying rocky outcrop that, according to the court, falls within the Philippines’ territory.
The binding ruling by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration was in response to the Philippines taking China to court. But China refused to acknowledge the verdict. As a result, Filipino fishermen to this day are prevented from accessing the coveted fishing areas there.
For more on this, DW spoke to Indo-Pacific analyst Richard Heydarian.
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