Southeast Asian Nations Need to Settle Spratly Disputes: Retired Judge A retired Philippine Supreme Court Justice Antonio says that the three nations should submit themselves to voluntary legal arbitration. April 19, 2021 The Peace Palace, seat of the International Court of Justice, at The Hague, Netherlands. Credit: Flickr/United Nations Photo Advertisement To observers of the disputes in the South China Sea, it has long been evident that bilateral disputes between Southeast Asian claimant states have hamstrung their ability to present a common front against China’s increasing assertiveness in the region. The challenge has once again been underlined since late March, when more than 200 Chinese vessels were deployed in Philippine waters, refusing to heed repeated demands from Manila to withdraw from the area.