HK arbitration expert questions jurisdiction of tribunal in The Hague

A leading Hong Kong law expert questioned on Wednesday both the procedures and the jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague in the South China Sea case, which ruled on Tuesday in favor of the Philippines.

However, a win-win situation is still likely in which China and the Philippines can resolve the dispute through negotiations, said Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, chairwoman of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre.

The Arbitral Tribunal, appointed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, announced on Tuesday that China has no "historic title" over the South China Seas and no historic basis supporting its claims behind the "nine-dash line" in the waters.