The arbitration concerned the role of historic rights and the source of maritime entitlements in the South China Sea. As provided in the Convention, the Tribunal's decision is final and legally binding on both China and the Philippines.Hon. James P. Kleinberg (Ret.) is a skilled arbitrator, mediator, and special master known for his efficiency and keeping parties focused on the issues. Background of the Case. This article attempts to provide a focused overview of the arbitration case and developments in the bilateral dispute between the two parties. The tribunal's ruling will be legally binding only for the two parties to the disputethe Philippines and China. The Tribunal issues a decision on the Respondent's preliminary objections pursuant to ICSID Arbitration Rule 41(5). Find your regional AAA-ICDR office location. Please click on a city for more details. The Philippines today commemorates the 7th Anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration.