The Tribunal said China does not own the South China Sea… Now how do you convince the Chinese government to comply with the ruling when the China population believe that they own it?” asked Carpio, one of the leading figures in the Philippines’ arbitration victory against China. In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled as invalid Beijing’s claim over vast portions of the South China Sea. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters within the EEZs of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines (the West Philippine Sea), Vietnam, and Taiwan. ADVERTISEMENT“If the Chinese government will comply with the ruling today, that would villainize them in the eyes of the Chinese people, who really believe they own the South China Sea. The Chinese people may even overthrow the Chinese government for giving away their sovereignty,” he explained.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 26, 2018 06:55 UTC