An international tribunal in The Hague ruled on Tuesday that China has no legal or historical claim to the South China Sea, and its activity in the area has violated the Philippines' sovereign rights. China has long claimed exclusive control over about 90 percent of the waters, and the case was originally filed by the Philippines in 2013 after China took over a reef that both countries said belonged to them. In its ruling, The Permanent Court of Arbitration said China's activity in the area, from disruptive fishing to building artificial islands, had caused "severe harm" to the environment.
After the ruling, the Philippines government released a statement saying it "strongly affirms its respect for this milestone decision as an important contribution to ongoing disputes in the South China Sea." The case is considered "an important crossroads in China's rise as a global power," says The New York Times. China did not participate in the tribunal and has said it will ignore the ruling.
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