ICC dismisses PH complaint vs Xi over South China Sea dispute

THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed the communication filed by former Philippine officials against Chinese President Xi Jinping and some of his men over alleged crimes committed against humanity involving the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

In its report on the preliminary activities for 2019 released on Thursday, the ICC said that under international law it “lacks personal jurisdiction” or territorial jurisdiction over "maritime zones beyond territorial sea, such as the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, as they “are not considered to comprise part of a State’s territory” based on article 12(2)(a) of the Rome Statute.