China is on a blitzkrieg campaign to get international support for its stand to boycott the U.N. Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) proceedings the Philippines launched over the two nations’ claim of Scarborough or Panatag Shoal. The attempt to get nations to back its stand came after the court said on Thursday that it would release its verdict on July 7.
The Wall Street Journal noted that a day after the court’s announcement, Lesotho, an African nation with no stake in the South China Sea territorial dispute, publicly supported China’s stand. Only eight countries, most of them in Africa, have publicly stood behind Beijing, although China insists there are 60 countries.
Besides Lesotho, the seven other nations are Afghanistan, Gambia, Kenya, Niger, Sudan, Togo and Vanuatu, based on the public statements issued by their respective governments which the business daily and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington reviewed separately.
Of the 60 nations that China claims is on its side, five denied backing Beijing. These are Fiji, Cambodia, Poland, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Euan Graham, South China Sea expert at the Lowy Institute in Australia, described the eight nations that publicly support China on boycotting the PCA proceedings as “a coalition of the equivocal” or the unaware. In turn, the U.S., including the Group of Seven nations, are urging China to respect the court’s decision.
The Diplomat pointed out that the PCA’s ruling would go beyond its legal effects, but would represent a “major milestone in the evolution of disputes” in the region. Besides Scarborough, China has competing claims with other nations over other territories in Asia. The portal added it expects the PCA to rule in favor of the Philippines on many counts which would deliver a big blow to the reputation of China.