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Fishermen join the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File 



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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17522842131251752284210821.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fishermen join the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — The Philippines&#x27; arbitration victory against China is already an &quot;unassailable&quot; part of international law and remains a &quot;cornerstone&quot; of the Philippine Maritime Policy, along with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.</p><p>The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Beijing has no legal basis to claim almost the entire South China Sea and said Manila has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea. </p><p>China however continues to disregard that ruling.</p><p>In a speech at the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum on the eve of the 9th anniversary of the international ruling, DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro said that the historic arbitration and its award were &quot;shining affirmations of the compulsory dispute resolution mechanisms&quot; of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).</p><p>She added that &quot;[i]t is already an unassailable part of the corpus of international law and has been cited by the International Tribunal in the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in their advisory opinion on climate change last year, as well as by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in their ruling on the Gabon vs. Equatorial Guinea case on sovereignty and maritime delimitations earlier this year.&quot;</p><p>Lazaro said the arbitral award is a guide on how maritime matters and concerns in the region should be addressed. </p><p>&quot;It is a telling reminder to the world that all countries, regardless of size, might, or capacity must meet their duties and obligations, especially under UNCLOS, including compliance with rulings by its legitimate tribunals and bodies,&quot; she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/11/dnd-marks-9th-year-of-arbitral-ruling-on-south-china-sea-dispute-1304">&#x27;The rule of law matters&#x27;: DND marks 9th year of Hague ruling on South China Sea dispute</a></div><div><strong></strong></div><p>She reiterated that the arbitration award declared that the UNCLOS &quot;superseded any historic right or other sovereign rights or jurisdiction in excess of the limits imposed by the Convention.&quot; </p><p>&quot;This claim to historic right, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction in areas that are contrary to UNCLOS is without lawful effect insofar as they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of the country’s entitlement under the Convention,&quot; Lazaro said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/10/carpio-urges-government-to-file-twin-arbitration-cases-against-china-over-sea-dispute-2339">Carpio urges PH gov&#x27;t to file twin arbitration cases against China over sea dispute</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UF-I5pB0MQI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Philippines' arbitration victory against China is already an "unassailable" part of international law and remains a "cornerstone" of the Philippine Maritime Policy, along with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.</p>

The Philippines' arbitration victory against China is already an "unassailable" part of international law and remains a "cornerstone" of the Philippine Maritime Policy, along with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

PH arbitration win vs China 'unassailable' part of international law: DFA chief

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PH arbitration win vs China 'unassailable' part of international law: DFA chief

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Published Jul 12, 2025 10:42 AM PHT

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