Sabina Shoal: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Determining sovereignty of disputed features is beyond the jurisdiction of UNCLOS according to Professor Robert Beckman of [[Nanyang Technological University]].<ref name="beckmanRoleOfUNCLOS">{{Cite web |first1 =Andrea| last1 =Ho|date=2021-05-06 |title=Professor Robert Beckman on the Role of UNCLOS in Maritime Disputes |url=https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2021/05/06/professor-robert-beckman-on-the-role-of-unclos-in-maritime-disputes/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Georgetown Journal of International Affairs |language=en-US}}</ref> The 2016 [[South China Sea Arbitration]] by the arbitral tribunal at [[Permanent Court of Arbitration]] in [[The Hague]] specifically stated that it does not "rule on any question of sovereignty".<ref name=jurisadmiss>{{cite web |title=Award on Jurisdiction and Admissibility |date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Permanent Court of Arbitration |url=https://pcacases.com/web/sendAttach/2579 |language=en |access-date=30 January 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503202232/https://pcacases.com/web/sendAttach/2579 |url-status=live }}</ref> The ruling did address specific issues brought to it which included where the Philippines' sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone had been breached by others.<ref name=jurisadmiss/> Other parts of its exclusive economic zone such as Sabina Shoal were not specifically considered by the ruling.<ref name="newFirestormErupts">{{cite news |last1=Seidel |first1=Jamie |title=New ‘firestorm’ erupts between China and Philippines in South China Sea |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/new-firestorm-erupts-between-china-and-philippines-in-south-china-sea/news-story/ad4eee1ab3a200f752cbf3ff451b14d8 |publisher=[[News.com.au]] |date=September 5, 2024}}</ref> There is a distinction between sovereignty and sovereign rights according to international martitime law.<ref name="sovereigntyVsSovereignRights">{{cite news |last1=Basu |first1=Pratnashree |title=Sovereignty Vs. Sovereign Rights: De-escalating Tensions in the South China Sea |url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/sovereignty-vs-sovereign-rights-de-escalating-tensions-in-the-south-china-sea |publisher=[[Observer Research Foundation]] |date=August 14, 2023}}</ref><ref name="seaDisputeSovereigntyVsSovereignRights">{{cite news |last1=Alfarsi |first1=Haroun |title=Sea Dispute: Sovereignty vs. Sovereign Rights |url=https://www.profolus.com/topics/sovereignty-vs-sovereign-rights-difference/ |publisher=Profolus |date=April 27, 2024}}</ref>

The Philippines as the coastal state has the sovereign rights and jurisdictions to explore, and manage, and conserve the natural resources of the sea within its EEZ according to UNCLOS.<ref name="chineseShipsReturnSabinaShoal">{{cite news |last1=Powell |first1=Ray |title=Chinese ships return to Sabina Shoal |url=https://www.sealight.live/posts/chinese-ships-return-to-sabina-shoal |publisher=SeaLight |date=November 19, 2023}}</ref><ref name="philippinesDidNotSurrender">{{cite news |last1=Gutierrez |first1=Jason |title=Philippines says it did not surrender Sabina Shoal to China |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/southchinasea/south-china-sea-sabina-shoal-09162024141029.html |publisher=[[Radio Free Asia]] |date=September 16, 2024}}</ref> It also has jurisdiction on "the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures; marine scientific research; and the protection and preservation of the marine environment" according to the same.<ref name="preambleToUNCLOS" />

While China does not claim all waters within its [[nine-dash line]] as its internal waters and territorial sea,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kw.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zgxw/202009/t20200911_1572845.htm|title=Wang Yi Laid Out Three Basic Facts of the Issue of the South China Sea|access-date=September 26, 2024|publisher=Chinese Embassy|location=Kuwait|date=September 9, 2020}}</ref> its actions near Sabina Shoal, has resulted in commentators implying this applies.<ref name="whyDoesChinaClaim">{{cite news |last1=Zhang |first1=Anson |title=Why does China claim almost the entire South China Sea? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/24/why-does-china-claim-almost-the-entire-south-china-sea |publisher=[[Al-Jazeera]] |date=October 24, 2023}}</ref> The 2016 arbitral tribunal ruled that China is not entitled to historic rights with respect to maritime areas claims within its nine-dash line.<ref name="noLegalBasisForChinasSCSClaims">{{cite news |title=‘No legal basis’ for China’s South China Sea claims |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/7/13/no-legal-basis-for-chinas-south-china-sea-claims |publisher=[[Al-Jazeera]] |date=July 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="chinaUNCLOS">{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Zheng |title=China and UNCLOS: An Inconvenient History |url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/07/china-and-unclos-an-inconvenient-history/ |publisher=[[The Diplomat]] |date=July 11, 2016}}</ref> China rejected the ruling as "ill-founded".<ref>{{cite news |title=Beijing rejects tribunal's ruling in South China Sea case |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/12/philippines-wins-south-china-sea-case-against-china |agency=The Guardian |date=12 Jul 2016}}</ref>