In a region fraught with tensions and conflicts, the South China Sea Arbitral Award Case (Case) concerned maritime conflicts between the Philippines and China, an inter-State, non-consensual, ex-parte arbitration under Annex VII of the UN Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS). The Case went against China. The Annex VII Tribunal decision of first and last instance, was final and without appeal. However, to the authors, the Case drew attention to the inherently unfair provisions of an exparte hearing under Annex VII that violates the principle of natural justice and casts uncertainty on the role and future of mandatory conciliation under the UNCLOS. These omissions are addressed here. Noting these omissions and limitations, to restore regional goodwill, ameliorate conflicts and tensions, and promote dispute settlement, a solution in mandatory conciliation is proposed -“A Partnership in Comity and Conciliation for the South China Sea”- with its provenance rooted in international law.

I. Introduction:Geopolitical Review of the South China Sea
II. Review of the South China Sea Arbitral Award Case
III. Annex VII Arbitration:Inter-State, Non-consensual and Ex-parte
IV. Mandatory Conciliation: A Proposal for the SouthChina Sea Dispute Settlement
    A. Pre-UN Charter
    B. The UNCLOS
V. The Comity and Conciliation Commission forthe South China Sea Disputes
    A. Legal Grounds
    B. Personal and Geographical Scope
    C. Material Scope
    D. Temporal and Fiscal Scope
VI. Conclusion

• Mary George(Professor at the University of Malaya, Malaysia. LL.B)
• Anneliz R. George(Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya, Malaysia. M.Ec)