【明報專訊】AS EXPECTED, the ruling in the South China Sea arbitration case filed by the Philippines is totally unfavourable to China. Not only did the court flatly reject China's claim to the "nine-dash line" historical interests, but it also decided Taiping Island to be a "rock" rather than an island. Furthermore, Japan intends to use the East China Sea issue to launch an offensive. It has said it will emulate the Philippines and submit questions about the East China Sea oil field to arbitration.