The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has said that it will rule on the case the Philippines brought against China’s vast claims in the East Sea on July 12.

The Tribunal will issue its Award at around 11am (Netherlands time) on July 12 2016, the PCA, the international tribunal for the peaceful resolution of disputes between nations based in The Hague, the Netherlands, said in a statement on June 29.

Illustrative image (Source: Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources)

“The Award will first be issued via e-mail to the Parties, along with an accompanying Press Release containing a summary of the Award”, it added.

The PCA began the in-camera hearing of the case on November 24, 2015 with Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam allowed to attend as observers.

Earlier last year, after reviewing the claims submitted by the Philippines, the tribunal rejected the argument by China that the dispute was beyond the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

The PCA said the case reflected the argument between the two countries concerning the enforcement of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and that this was within the PCA’s scope.

(Source: VNA)