THIS arrogance of China is habitual. As usual, China has refused to abide by the verdict of the international law -- as regards its claims on vast parts of South China Sea. China also is one of the nations that ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Yet, it has held that a verdict passed by a tribunal by the International Court at The Hague about Chinese claim on virtually the entire sea passage which is a very critical sea-trade route and also feared as a possible geopolitical flashpoint. This is nothing but sheer arrogance on China’s part -- which as many as fourteen nations including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Philipppines have slammed. China’s claim is fully illegal, these nations -- and also the European Union -- have said.

 

Though there may not arise any serious and open conflict on this issue in the near future, it is obvious that a good part of international realpolitik may be played around this point in the next few years. Beijing has often adopted such an arrogant attitude towards many issues in the international arena. It is common knowledge that China has been involved in territorial disputes with multiple countries whose borders do not even touch the Chinese borders anywhere. The story of South China Sea also is one of an uncalled for international flashpoint. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is widely regarded as the treaty governing the world’s oceans and seas -- effective from 1994 -- after having been ratified by as many as 170 countries including China. Yet, in the case of South China Sea, Beijing does not either accept or reject the tribunal verdict. It also continues with its occupation of a disputed shoal in the narrow sea passage. The international law respects fully China’s natural right on its own territorial waters, but calls China’s claim on the virtually the entire route fully illegal.

 

The nations that have opposed the Chinese claim have described the Chinese actions in South China Sea as unilaterally destabilising peace that threaten the stability in the region. It was the Philippines that had moved the international court at The Hague in 2013 challenging the Chinese claim on almost the entire length and breadth of the narrow South China Sea passage. In 2016, the international court issued a ruling that China’s claim on South China Sea was illegal. China had no legal basis to stake the claim, the verdict had stated in effect. As usual, Beijing has described the tribunal verdict as not applicable to its actions, and described the award as blatantly illegal. It is obvious, thus, that the South China Sea dispute would drag for long and would disturb peace in the region to a great extent. In time, the region may even become a flashpoint in international geopolitics. In the past several decades, China has often displayed its expansionist ambitions -- which the 14 nations and the European Union have objected to in the strongest possible terms. In this case, Beijing has described its actions as per the principle of its sovereignty and relevant rights established in the long course of history -- upon which the international tribunal cannot adjudicate. This stand of China is in tune with its own habit of disrespecting international law.

 

China often seems to insist that any law that does not favour China’s interest cannot be accepted. It appears that Beijing is least worried that it is one of the signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This has angered the nations that have formed a joint front against China’s interference in the South China Sea. Universally, the problem with China is that it does not have any respect for international law. It often throws to the wind the international law quoting its own historical background -- which actually makes a mockery of the international ethos that forms the foundation of international relations. Though most countries takes stance to protect their own interests, China often goes berserk and defies logic and law.