Judges of the Hague tribunal ruled against China on Thursday, in what is globally seen as a victory for the Phillipines, who's fishing industry has been suffering ever since China territorially claimed much of the South China Sea 4 years ago.
There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the 'nine-dash line'," the court said, referring to a demarcation line on a 1947 map of the sea, which is rich in energy, mineral and fishing resources.
China has already rebuffed the court:
"The arbitration tribunal made the illegal and invalid so-called final verdict on the South China Sea dispute on July 12. Regarding this issue, China has made the statement for many times that it is against the international law that the Aquino III administration of Philippines unilaterally requested the arbitration. The arbitration tribunal has no jurisdiction on this matter."