JURISDICTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ARBITRATION (PHILIPPINES v. CHINA)

Abstract

The article examines jurisdiction and environmental aspects of the South China Sea arbitration (Philippines v. China) through the analyzes of the award on jurisdiction and admissibility of 29 October 2015 and the award (merits) of 12 July 2016. The main goal of this article is twofold. First, to demonstrate that the arbitral tribunal established under annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea had not jurisdiction over the case. Second, to examine the part of the award (merits) concerning the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment. It is argued that the refuse of China to take part in any act referring the arbitration led to a rigorous assessment by the court, especially regarding environmental issues. The paper used the hypothetical-deductive model supported by the analysis of the said awards and doctrinal studies.