South China Sea Arbitration

The South China Sea Arbitration was a legal case brought by the Philippines against China in 2013, regarding territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The Philippines sought clarity on its rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In 2016, an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, rejecting China's extensive claims over the area. The tribunal found that many of China's claims had no legal basis, affirming the Philippines' rights to its Exclusive Economic Zone, but China rejected the ruling, leading to ongoing tensions in the region.