A landmark international court ruling on Tuesday night could provide some much needed clarity on a series of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, which has emerged as a flashpoint for regional security.

Tensions have escalated in the lead up to the ruling from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, based in The Hague, with both China and the United States conducting military training exercises in the region. Australia has so far been treading a cautious line on the issue but could come under pressure to take a firmer position once the ruling is out.