landmark case
オランダのハーグにある国際司法裁判所は、南シナ海における中国の人工島建設を非難し、中国側が主権を主張している海域については認めませんでした。
Hague Tribunal Rejects Beijing’s Claims in South China Sea
BEIJING — An international tribunal in The Hague delivered a sweeping rebuke on Tuesday of China’s behavior in the South China Sea, from the construction of artificial islands to interference with fishing, and ruled that its expansive claim to sovereignty over the waters had no legal basis.
The tribunal also said that Beijing had violated international law by causing “severe harm to the coral reef environment” and by failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from harvesting endangered sea turtles and other species “on a substantial scale.”
The landmark case, brought by the Philippines, was seen as an important crossroads in China’s rise as a global power. It is the first time the Chinese government has been summoned before the international justice system, and neighboring countries have hoped that the outcome will provide a model for negotiating with Beijing or for challenging its assertive tactics in the region.
“It’s an overwhelming victory. We won on every significant point,” the Philippines’ chief counsel in the case, Paul S. Reichler, said after the decision was announced. “This is a remarkable victory for the Philippines.”
今回取り上げるのは “landmark case” です。landmark には目印という意味がありますが、ここではどのような意味になるのでしょうか。『ライトハウス英和辞典』（第5版 研究社）で他の意味を調べてみますと、名詞で「画期的な事件」、「（形容詞的に）画期的な」という意味が見つかりました。今回はlandmarkの後ろにcaseがきていますので、「画期的な司法判断」のことを指しているのではないかと考えられます。(aqua)
