Tribunal to hear S. China Sea dispute
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – An international tribunal ruled Thursday that it can take on a case between China and the Philippines over disputed territory in the South China Sea, overruling objections from Beijing that the arbitration body has no authority to hear the case.
The Philippine case, which was filed before the tribunal in The Hague in January 2013, contends that China’s massive territorial claims in the strategic waters do not conform with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and should be declared invalid. The Philippines also asserts that some Chinese-occupied reefs and shoals do not generate, or create a claim to, territorial waters.
The tribunal said it has authority to look into seven issues raised by the Philippines against China.
South Sudan rebels holding peacekeepers
JUBA, South Sudan – Rebels in South Sudan said Thursday they have seized UN river barges they suspected were transporting weapons for government troops, and have been holding 16 peacekeepers who were aboard them for three days.
The barges with a total of at least 27 people aboard, including crew members, were taken along the White Nile in a disputed area in the volatile state of Upper Nile.
James Gatdet Dak, a spokesman for rebel leader Riek Machar, said the barges were seized but did not specify how many.
Associated Press
