SCS ruling ‘ legally binding’, says US

Wa shing t on/ Mani l a / Hanoi/ Taipei, July 12: The US put itself on a collision course with great power rival China on Tuesday, describing a ruling against Beijing’s South China Sea claims as “final and legally binding.”

Washington had carefully avoided taking a stance on the suit lodged by the Philippines against China’s maritime territorial claims, but when judgment came down, it urged both sides to abide by the result. “The United States expresses its hope and expectation that both parties will comply with their obligations,” state department spokesman John Kirby said. “The decision today by the tribunal in the Philippines- China arbitration is an important contribution to the shared goal of a peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China Sea,” Mr Kirby said.

US officials are “studying the decision and have no comment on the merits of the case,” he added, but nevertheless asserted the right of the tribunal to make its ruling and said it should be respected. The Philippines welcomed the

Taiwan said it did not accept the ruling, which seriously impaired its territorial rights

ruling, foreign secretary Perfecto Yasay said, as he urged restraint. “The Philippines welcomes the issuance today... On the arbitration proceedings initiated by the Philippines with regard to the South China Sea,” Mr Yasay said.

“Our experts are studying the award with the care and thoroughness that this significant arbitral outcome deserves. In the meantime, we call on all those concerned to exercise restraint and sobriety,” Mr Yasay said. Vietnam also welcomed the ruling, saying it strongly supports peaceful resolution of disputes, while reasserting its own sovereignty claims. “Vietnam welcomes the arbitration court issuing its final ruling,” foreign ministry spokesman, Le Hai Binh, said in a statement. “Vietnam strongly supports the resolution of the disputes in the South China Sea by peaceful means, including diplomatic and legal processes and refraining from the use or threats to use force, in accordance with international law.”

Taiwan, which maintains that the island it occupies, Itu Aba, is legally the only island among hundreds of reefs, shoals and atolls scattered across the seas, said it did not accept the ruling, which seriously impaired Taiwan’s territorial rights. “This is the worst scenario,” Taiwan foreign minister David Tawei Lee told reporters, promising unspecified “action” from Taipei.