UN tribunal to issue Philippines vs China decision by 2016

MANILA, Philippines - The Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations is set to issue a ruling on the arbitration case between the Philippines and China by 2016.

"The tribunal now enters its deliberations and intends to issue its award in 2016," the tribunal said in a statement.

The Philippines has concluded its legal arguments against China before the international arbitral court in connection to the disputed South China Sea.

China did not participate in the proceedings but the tribunal gave it until Jan. 1, 2016 to comment on the Philippines' arguments.

READ: Philippines rests case in sea row

The Philippines said that it believes that the tribunal will uphold the rule of law in issuing its decision on the case.

"We confidently entrust our fate, the fate of the region and, indeed, the fate of the Convention to you," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in his concluding speech before the tribunal.

The tribunal earlier sided with the Philippines in the initial rounds of the arbitration case, issuing its award on jurisdiction.

However, China refused to honor the arbitral tribunal's decision and reiterated that it has indisputable sovereignty over the disputed sea.

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