MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The territorial dispute between China and several Asian countries over islands in the South China Sea has gone from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to the International Beauty Pageants.

It will be recalled that the court has recently ruled in favor of the Philippines over a case brought before it, challenging China’s claims over the disputed territories.

There are reports that China has banned the participation of the Philippines, along with Japan and Korea in the upcoming Miss Bikini Universe, an annual beauty pageant held in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province.  All indications point to the South China Sea territorial dispute as the reason for the ban.

In retaliation, the Philippines today announced that China will not be allowed to participate in the 2017 Miss Universe Pageant which will be hosted in Manila next January.

The Philippines was recently named as host of the Miss Universe Pageant, the third time  for the country.  Coincidentally, the Philippines has three Miss Universe title holders — Gloria Diaz, Margarita Moran and the reigning queen Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.