Beijing has boycotted the proceedings, saying the court has no jurisdiction over the issue and that it would ignore the ruling. AFP, BEIJINGBeijing has begun military drills in the South China Sea, state media reported yesterday ahead of a ruling by an international arbitration court on a dispute with the Philippines over the strategic waters. He said the negotiations could cover jointly exploiting natural gas reserves and fishing grounds within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The military maneuvers come as the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is set to make its final decision on Tuesday in the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China. To bolster its claims it has turned reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

Source: Taipei Times July 09, 2016 16:04 UTC