India studying tribunal verdict in South China Sea dispute

NEW DELHI: India is "studying" the verdict of a UN-backed tribunal which today ruled that China has no legal basis to claim "historic rights" to islands in South China Sea.

"India is studying the verdict," a senior government official said when asked for India's reaction to the ruling of the international tribunal on China's dispute with the Philippines over South China Sea.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration said in a statement that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights within the sea areas falling within the 'nine-dash line'.

China has said it "does not accept and does not recognise" the ruling.