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BEIJING — An international tribunal ruled Tuesday that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the South China Sea — a major blow to Beijing that could further inflame tensions.
China immediately rejected the decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, but it was hailed as a landmark victory for those challenging Beijing’s reach into waters with key strategic and commercial significance.
The State Department called on China to abide by the ruling and urged …
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