The Permanent Court of Arbitration handles international disputes through arbitral tribunals, including maritime and treaty cases around the world.
The United States and its regional partners are pressing for freedom of navigation as ASEAN nations accelerate talks on a code of conduct. China asserts its claims over disputed waters while continuing coast guard and military activity near Huangyan Island and other flashpoints. Philippines vows to push back against Beijing’s moves, citing recent missile tests and maritime postures.
The International Court of Arbitration has ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty remains fully in force, obliging India to limit construction on the Ratle hydroelectric project in Kashmir. Both sides remain locked in a long-running dispute over water-sharing between India and Pakistan, with a neutral expert due by mid-2027 to assess project compliance.
Cambodia and Thailand have moved their maritime dispute to UNCLOS after unilateral steps to terminate a bilateral framework. The proceedings in Singapore seek a peaceful, rules-based resolution of overlapping marine boundary claims tied to gas and hydrocarbons, with a non-binding recommendation expected within a year.