The Philippines accuses China of destroying the East Sea environment

(Dan Tri) – During the second day of the trial of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague (Netherlands), foreign legal advisors of the Philippines accused China of destroying the East Sea environment, and affirmed that the court

Philstar newspaper quoted Ms. Abigail Valte, deputy spokeswoman of the Philippine president, as saying that during the July 8 (local time) hearing of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague (Netherlands), the country’s delegation presented its case.

In addition, the lawyers also used many arguments to prove that this case falls within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and is not an exception to this convention.

`Yesterday morning, British Professor Philippe Sands (University of London) answered the questions asked by the Permanent Court of Arbitration judge since July 7,` said spokesman Valte.

According to Ms. Valte, advisors Lawrence Martin, Bernard Oxman and Paul Reichler then presented arguments proving that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has sufficient jurisdiction over the case of the Philippines suing China under the provisions of UNCLOS.

During the afternoon trial on July 8, British Professor Alan Boyle, an international public law expert (Edinburgh University), presented arguments asserting that activities to promote China’s sovereignty claims have damaged the environment.

At the end of the hearing on the second day, Professor Philippe Sands, representing Manila’s delegation,  summarized the Philippine delegation’s statements before the permanent tribunal.

Philstar quoted expert Jay Batongbacal (Philippines) as saying it could take 3 months for the Permanent Court of Arbitration to declare the court’s jurisdiction in this case.

The Philippines has international support

The Strait Times commented that even though the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, this victory was only symbolic, because China had stated that it did not accept that ruling.

However, the Phil Star newspaper on July 9 commented that the Philippines’ lawsuit against China is receiving unanimous support from the international community.

Philstar identified the Philippine delegation’s hearing before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague as an important turning point.

The US news agency AP also recently quoted Philippine Supreme Court Judge Antonio Carpio as saying that a ruling in favor of Manila would humiliate Beijing before the international community.