PH submits 12-volume, 3000-page supplement to UN tribunal on South China Sea claims

From InterAksyon (Mar 17): PH submits 12-volume, 3000-page supplement to UN tribunal on South China Sea claims

The Philippine government has handed over a “supplemental submission” consisting of “12 volumes totaling over 3,000 pages” as part of the case it filed before the United Nations arbitral tribunal over its territorial disputes with China, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

The submission, said the DFA, is in response to 26 questions from the tribunal on December 16 last year “requesting additional argument and information” on “issues concerning both the tribunal’s jurisdiction and the merits of the Philippines’ claims, including the Philippines’ principled claim challenging the lawfulness of China’s so-called ‘nine-dash line’.”

The DFA said the Philippines “is confident that its answers to the Tribunal’s questions leave no doubt that the Tribunal has jurisdiction over the case and that the Philippines claims, including in particular its claims concerning the nine-dash line, are well-founded in fact and law.”

The first volume of the submission, said the DFA, “consists of 200 pages of written argument,” while “Volume II consists of a 200-page Atlas containing detailed information about 49 islands, reefs and other features in the South China Sea.”

It said the submission was a cooperative effort, noting that “preparing such an extensive submission in such short order required substantial effort and coordination from relevant concerned agencies.”

At the same time, it said the tribunal’s questions reflected “the evident care and attention” it was giving the case.

It also noted that, “the Tribunal has managed, with utmost professionalism, the difficulties created by China’s decision not to appear, taking care to make sure neither side is prejudiced by that decision.”

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/107107/ph-submits-12-volume-3000-page-supplement-to-un-tribunal-on-south-china-sea-claims