Hey there! 🌊 Have you heard about the South China Sea? It’s a big area of the ocean where many countries have interests.
On Saturday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that a decision made in 2016 about the South China Sea isn’t fair and doesn’t follow international law. They called it ‘illegal, null and void, and non-binding.’
In 2016, there was a decision called the ‘Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.’ An arbitral award is like a verdict given by a special court to settle disputes between countries.
China says that this decision was made without talking to them properly first. They believe it breaks the rules because countries should solve problems by talking directly to each other.
They also feel that the award goes against the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is a big agreement that sets out how countries should use the world’s oceans.
One of the things China disagrees with is how the award describes some islands in the South China Sea. For example, Taiping Island is the largest island there, but the award called it a rock instead of an island!
This matters because whether something is an island or a rock can change how much of the ocean around it belongs to a country.
China says they want to solve any disagreements peacefully by talking with the other countries involved. They hope others will stop referring to this award, which they believe isn’t fair.
The South China Sea is important to many countries, and it’s great when they can work together to find solutions! 🤝
Reference(s):
China says 2016 South China Sea 'arbitral award' violates intl law
cgtn.com
