Hague rules against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration gave the ruling on a case brought by the Philippines.

The Tribunal said there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources of the South China Sea.

It said China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights, and caused severe harm to the coral reef environment by building artificial islands.

However; China has dismissed the ruling as ill-founded, and vowed not to abide by it.