The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will start public hearings here on June 25th to determine if the Philippines can intervene in a territorial dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia. Both Malaysia and Indonesia claim sovereignty over the islands of Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipidan, situated off the Sabah coast of Borneo in the Celebes Sea. The countries have agreed to allow the ICJ to decide who owns islands.

Malaysia is expected to cite its ownership of Sabah as the basis for its claim to the islands. But the Philippines also lays claim to Sabah on the grounds that it was ruled by a southern Philippine sultanate in the 15th century. Manila believes that a decision by the international court might affect its claim to Sabah.