China loses South China Sea claim in ruling at The Hague

China has no legal basis to claim “historic rights” to islands in the South China Sea, an international tribunal ruled on Tuesday in a bitter dispute that risks stoking further tensions in Southeast Asia.

“The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’,” the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration said in a statement.

It has dealt a setback to Beijing that the US fears could intensify moves to establish its control by force.

How Beijing responds to the ruling in the case filed by US ally the Philippines could chart the course of global power relations in an increasingly dangerous hotspot. It comes as the US has ramped up its military presence in the region and could seek to marshal world opinion to pressure Beijing into complying with the verdict. A new Philippine leader who appears friendlier to Beijing could also influence the aftermath of the ruling....

Findings of the tribunal are binding on the parties, including China. But the court — without police or military forces or a system of sanctions at its disposal — can’t enforce its ruling, so its potential impact remains unclear.

The US isn’t honoring our treaties and agreements these days, not surprising China and a hand full of other countries are doing the same.

The next 6 months are a do or die time for these countries, and they know it will be 20 to 50 years before they get the same kind of opportunity again, if ever.

China may be a land beast, but they have been studying very hard the last several decades on how to project power further off their shores.

Your; "What keeps bothering me is why? and why now? China is a land animal, they are investing in both a blue water navy and an expensive and aggressive campaign to seize the South China Sea. This risks a general war in eastern Asia."

Red China wants to reestablish China as The Middle Kingdom of the world. To do so it has been positioning itself to regionally challenge America's armed forces in 2025 and win. That involves securing near sea lanes and resources.

There is much more involved. But basically Red China is viewing the near ocean as "wet land", treating it as their territory in the same fashion as land. They are just doing so by using naval forces.

Though the philosophical underpinning of Red China's actions is military and not naval, it is positioning itself to prevent the US Navy's tactical forces and our nation's strategic forces from being able to impose our will on Red China. Again, 2025 is the year Red China is preparing for this to be in place.

Very much enjoyed your post's thoughtful and informative comments.

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