THE HAGUE - An international tribunal will hand down a ruling on July 12 in a highly-watched case brought by the Philippines challenging China's claims to most of the South China Sea.
Beijing has built a runway on the Fiery Cross Reef, which is also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines
The Permanent Court of Arbitration has "informed the parties" that "the tribunal will issue its award on Tuesday, 12 July 2016 at approximately 11 am (local time)," the institution based in The Hague said in a statement. The verdict could further inflame tensions in the strategic waterway.