The Philippines argued at a closed hearing on Tuesday that an international court should intervene in its dispute with China over the right to exploit natural resources and fish in the South China Sea. Although China has declined to participate, the case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is being closely watched by Asian governments and Washington, given rising regional tensions as Chinese naval power grows. A panel of five judges will hear arguments this week and decide whether the treaty-based court has jurisdiction. Manila filed the suit before the court in 2013, seeking to enforce its right to exploit waters in a 200-nautical mile "exclusive economic zone" off its coast, as defined under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Montemayor, J., & Hachero, A. (2015, July 9). PH urges arbitral panel to intervene in China dispute. Malaya, p. B1.