Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17836732867221724831380495172075081045220240516-atin-ito-wps-MT-52.jpg.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Fishermen who joined the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File </div>MANILA — Two days before the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, the Philippines on Friday pointed to sustained international backing for the ruling as proof that it remains a legally binding pillar of the rules-based international order despite China&#x27;s continued rejection of the decision.The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) hosted a commemorative conference and diplomatic reception titled &quot;A Decade Hence: The Enduring Promise of Peaceful Dispute Settlement,&quot; bringing together senior Philippine officials, foreign ministers, diplomats, and legal experts to reflect on the award&#x27;s enduring significance for international law, regional security, and ocean governance.Opening the conference, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro described the 2016 ruling as a &quot;lighthouse&quot; that continues to guide not only the Philippines but also the international community.&quot;The award is final. It is legally binding. It is not a mere statement of policy. It is not subject to negotiation or compromise. It is an unshakable, permanent anchor of our rules-based international order,&quot; Lazaro said.She said the ruling permanently clarified that China&#x27;s so-called historic rights claim within the nine-dash line has no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while its principles have since been cited by international tribunals and states dealing with maritime disputes and ocean governance.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/10/6-in-10-filipinos-approve-of-marcos-response-to-west-philippine-sea-0956">6 in 10 Filipinos approve of Marcos&#x27; West Philippine Sea response—survey </a></div>Lazaro said Philippine maritime policy will continue to be anchored on four principles: steadfast adherence to international law, maintaining dialogue while pursuing an effective and legally binding South China Sea Code of Conduct, strengthening alliances and partnerships, and pursuing a principled foreign policy that protects Philippine rights while promoting regional peace and stability.Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe said the award&#x27;s greatest achievement is not simply the judgment handed down in The Hague in 2016, but the Philippines&#x27; decision to embed it into its laws and institutions over the past decade.&quot;The South China Sea Award endures to this day not because it was rendered in The Hague, but because the Republic decided in our Constitution, in our laws, in our institutions and in our dealings with the world to live by it,&quot; Berberabe said.She cited the enactment of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act in 2024, as well as Executive Order No. 111 directing the publication of official Philippine charts reflecting the country&#x27;s maritime zones and Philippine names for features in the Kalayaan Island Group, as examples of how the Award has been translated into domestic law and policy.“Our zone stands unshadowed. What does that mean in daily life? It means the fish that feed our coastal towns are in law Filipino fish. It means the gas beneath Recto Bank is in law, Filipino gas and that Bajo de Masinloc in law, remains a traditional fishing ground from which our fishermen may not lawfully be barred,” she added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/8/marcos-signs-two-laws-reinforcing-philippine-rights-over-maritime-zones-1306">Marcos signs two laws reinforcing Philippine rights over maritime zones </a></div>Berberabe also argued that the ruling protects not only Philippine sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone but also freedom of navigation, international commerce, and the broader rules-based maritime order upon which global trade depends.<div> </div><div>LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES SEND SUPPORT</div>Foreign officials attending the conference used the occasion to reiterate their governments&#x27; support for the Award and the rules-based order.In a video message, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia has consistently called on both the Philippines and China to abide by the 2016 ruling since it was issued.&quot;We want each country, large or small, to operate by the same rules,&quot; Wong said, stressing that disputes should be resolved &quot;through dialogue, and according to the rules, not by force or by raw power.&quot;She also announced Australia&#x27;s continued investment in maritime cooperation with Southeast Asian partners, including expanded assistance to the Philippines to strengthen maritime domain awareness, governance, and environmental protection.Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Tomoaki Shimada likewise reaffirmed Japan&#x27;s support for the Philippines&#x27; consistent position based on the Award and international law, describing the 2016 decision as a crucial milestone that highlights the importance of peacefully settling disputes under UNCLOS.He said peace and stability in the South China Sea remain vital not only for the region but for the international community as a whole.Speaking to reporters after the event, Lazaro said the broad participation of like-minded countries and members of the diplomatic corps demonstrates the Award&#x27;s continuing international relevance.Asked about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s concern that Philippine policy in the West Philippine Sea could change after his administration, Lazaro said the ruling&#x27;s legal status ensures its enduring relevance.&quot;It is legal and binding, not only to the parties, but to all,&quot; she said.She called the Award the Philippines’ “gift to the world,&quot; saying it strengthened the legal framework protecting freedom of navigation through one of the world&#x27;s busiest maritime trade routes.Lazaro also brushed aside recent claims by Chinese scholars asserting that Batanes belongs to China through Taiwan, saying these represented academic views rather than official Chinese government policy.&quot;We listen to governments,&quot; she said.In a separate statement, the DFA strongly rejected revisionist claims over the country’s territory.“Flights of fancy should not be dignified with a response. Nevertheless, the Philippines&#x27; sovereignty over Batanes is settled and not up for debate. The Philippines will not entertain revisionist claims over its territory and calls on so-called scholars  to focus their energies on genuine, good-faith studies of the region. The Philippine-approved Consular district of the Chinese Consulate General in Laoag includes the Philippine province of Batanes,” the statement said.On negotiations for an ASEAN-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, Lazaro said talks continue through monthly meetings and remain anchored on UNCLOS.She said negotiators are working toward completing their work program before the end of the year, adding that while every round presents challenges, each also produces progress. She acknowledged that the 2016 Arbitral Award forms part of the ongoing discussions.

Two days before the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, the Philippines pointed to sustained international backing for the ruling as proof that it remains a legally binding pillar of the rules-based international order.

Two days before the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, the Philippines pointed to sustained international backing for the ruling as proof that it remains a legally binding pillar of the rules-based international order.

Global support reaffirms binding nature of 2016 arbitral award ahead of 10th anniversary

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Global support reaffirms binding nature of 2016 arbitral award ahead of 10th anniversary

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 10, 2026 04:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippines

China

West Philippine Sea

Batanes

arbitral ruling

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