SOUTH CHINA SEA:A seminar was held last month to discuss the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision in a case brought by Manila and the Tsai administration’s reaction

Tai0pei Times
Date: Sep 05, 2016
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff reporter

President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) criticism of a recent international court ruling that Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) was legally a “rock” has tainted Taiwan’s image in the international law community, highlighted the legal bind of Taiwan’s claim to sovereignty over Itu Aba and allied Taiwan with China in a South China Sea territory dispute, academics said.

Tsai said The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling was “absolutely unacceptable.”

The Taiwan Society of International Law last month held a seminar focused on the ruling and its potential impact on Taiwan — a month after the court issued its ruling in a case brought by the Philippines.

Society president Yen Ching-chang (顏慶章) said he called for discussions last month so that Taiwanese could weigh in on the issue in a “calmer state of mind.”     [FULL  STORY]