MANILA, Philippines — Ibinasura ng Permanent Court of Arbitration sa ilalim ng United Nations ang iginigiit ng China na walang kapangyarihan ang international court na dinggin ang arbitration case ng Pilipinas.
Sinabi ng tribunal na kapwa sakop ng United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ang Pilipinas at China.
"In light of the foregoing, the Tribunal has concluded that it is presently able to decide that it does have jurisdiction with respect to the matters raised in seven of the Philippines’ Submissions," the tribunal said.
Nilinaw naman nila na wala pa silang desisyon sa arbitration case ng Pilipinas.
"The Tribunal's Award of today's date is unanimous and concerns only whether the Tribunal has jurisdiction to consider the Philippines' claims and whether such claims are admissible. The Awards does not decide any aspect of the merits of the Parties' dispute," pahayag ng tribunal.
Lumapit ang Pilipinas sa tribunal upang husgahan kung may dapat bang angkinin ng China ang West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) na saklaw ng karagatan ng Pilipinas.
Nauna nang sinabi ng China na hindi sila makikilahok sa pagdinig.
“It will neither accept nor participate in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines."
Sinabi pa ng Tribunal na ipagpapatuloy pa rin nila ang pagdinig sa kaso.
"The Tribunal has also held that China's decision not to participate in these proceedings does not deprive the Tribunal of jurisdiction and that the Philippines' decision to commence arbitration unilaterally was not an abuse of the Convention's dispute settlement procedures."