HAGUE: An arbitration court in The Hague on Tuesday (Jul 12) found no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources in the South China Sea. It also found that China has interfered with Philippine fishing rights in the disputed waters.

China has no "historic title" over the waters of the South China Sea, said the tribunal, adding that none of the Spratly Islands grant China an exclusive economic zone.

The tribunal said China caused "permanent, irreparable harm" to the coral reef ecosystem at Spratlys. It added that China's claim to historic rights under the nine-dash-line are contrary to the UN convention.

Chinese media earlier called the court a "law-abusing tribunal" and said the award was "ill-founded".