Beijing could also declare an air defence identification zone over the South China Sea, claiming the right to interrogate aircraft passing through the airspace. BEIJING: Beijing braced Tuesday for an international tribunal’s ruling on the South China Sea, where it has expansive territorial claims, with all eyes watching for the Asian giant’s reaction on the ground or in the water. “The ruling can reduce the scope of the South China Sea disputes, but will not solve them,” said analysts Yanmei Xie and Tim Johnston of the International Crisis Group in a report. Its claims derive from a map drawn in the 1940s that show a dashed line stretching south from China and encircling almost all of the sea. He has said he would not “taunt or flaunt” a favourable ruling and would seek a “soft landing” with China.

Source: New Strait Times July 12, 2016 02:48 UTC