China’s maritime claims unlawful: US reportAFP, WASHINGTONThe US on Wednesday laid out its most detailed case yet against Beijing’s “unlawful” claims in the South China Sea, rejecting the geographic and historic bases for its vast, divisive map. “The overall effect of these maritime claims is that the PRC unlawfully claims sovereignty or some form of exclusive jurisdiction over most of the South China Sea,” the paper said, referring to the People’s Republic of China. In 2016, an international court sided with the Philippines in its complaints over China’s claims. The state department paper said that such historical-based claims had “no legal basis” and that China had not offered specifics. The South China Sea is home to valuable oil and gas deposits and shipping lanes, and Beijing’s neighbors have frequently voiced concern that their giant neighbor was seeking to expand its reach.

Source: Taipei Times January 13, 2022 16:33 UTC