On July 13th, the United Nations-appointed Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in a sweeping decision that China’s nine-dash claim to most of the South China Sea has no historical basis. China has refused to take part in the court process since the Philippines brought the case to The Hague, calling it illegal. Since that decision, China’s initial reaction has been one of indignation, without ruling out the right to declare an Air Defence Identification Zone if provoked.