Cover image via inquirer.net
As we all know, the international tribunal ruled against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea, and now the West Philippine Sea, backing a case brought by the Philippines
According to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources.
China called the ruling "ill-founded" and says they will not be bound by the ruling.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including reefs and islands also claimed by others according to report by [BBC](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-36771749).
The tribunal in **The Hague** said China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights.**It also ruled out and said China had caused "severe harm to the coral reef environment" by building artificial islands.**
1. China called The Hague an illegal tribunal
2. The Philippines's case against China marked the first legal challenge raised on the territorial disputes at the South China Sea. This was filed in the term of President Noynoy Aquino, back in 2013.
3. According to BBC, the shallow waters and reefs of the Scarborough Shoal is packed with resources. Fishermen even claim that up to 200kg of fish can be caught in just over an hour
4. In 2012, the Communist Party reclassified the South China Sea as a "core national interest", placing it alongside Taiwan and Tibet. It means China is prepared to fight to defend it.
5. And here are the countries who support the Philippines's claim to the West Philippine Sea
6. And China claimed that the South China Sea shouldn't be turned into a "cradle of war"
7. An eccentric Filipino businessman called Tomas Cloma first occupied PAG-ASA in 1956
8. 9-dash line is a U-shaped line that the Chinese people believe to be its own according to this documentary:
9. The Sierra Madre, one of the Philippines's defense ship for the West Philippine Sea, looks haunted and old
Image via null
10. Part of the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines are the following islands:
11. China took control of Panatag Shoal in 2012 and built an artificial island in the Fiery Cross Reef called the Kagitingan Reef by the Philippines
12. High tide or low tide? This is an important part of the decision of the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on China and Philippines's maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea, according to a [report] (http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/v2/07/12/16/the-west-philippine-sea-high-tide-or-low-tide) by ABS-CBN
Beginning in early 2015, Mischief Reef has undergone extensive reclamation activity along the western rim of the reef. Recent widening of the southern entrance to the reef, coupled with sightings of PLAN naval vessels around the reef, may suggest a future role for the reclaimed reef as a naval base.
Subi Reef is the most recent feature to undergo significant reclamation efforts by China. Originally occupied in 1988, since July of 2014 it has seen significant expansion of the landmass with some analysis suggesting it might have the footprint to support a second airstrip, much like Fiery Cross Reef.
