UN tribunal mulling hearing South China Sea territorial dispute

A United Nations (UN) tribunal is reportedly mulling hearing a legal case challenging territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The Philippines urged the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2013 to declare most of China's maritime claims in the disputed water invalid, reported the BBC.

The country has already sent a high-profile legal team to the proceedings by the five-member tribunal, which will continue till July 13.

China is not attending the arbitration as it believes the tribunal does not have the authority to hear the legal challenge.

Beijing claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, eliciting ire from several South Asian nations like Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

If the tribunal decides to hear the case, the legal proceedings will get underway.