Marilyn Cahatol

Fisherfolk on small bancas join volunteers from the Atin Ito Coalition and members of the media as they prepare to depart from Matalbis Port in Masinloc, Zambales, for the second civilian resupply mission to the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178381557315620240515-atin-ito-wps-MT-35.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fisherfolk on small bancas join volunteers from the Atin Ito Coalition and members of the media as they prepare to depart from Matalbis Port in Masinloc, Zambales, for the second civilian resupply mission to the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines and 13 other countries have reaffirmed the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/16/read-arbitral-courts-ruling-on-philippines-vs-china">2016 Philippines-China South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award</a> that recognizes the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, in celebration of the ruling’s 10th anniversary.</p><p>“We reaffirm that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” a text statement released by the governments of the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, United Kingdom, and the United States of America said.</p><p>The countries stressed that the Arbitral Tribunal’s award is a “significant milestone and is final, legally binding, and definitive between China and the Philippines with respect to the maritime entitlements and claims addressed by the Arbitral Tribunal.”</p><p>On July 12, 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s expansive nine-dash line claims—now ten-dash line—in the South China Sea, reaffirming that the Philippines is entitled to a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) measured from its archipelagic baselines, in accordance with the UNCLOS.</p><p>The countries reiterated that “there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including those based on ‘historic rights.’”</p><p>The statement also expressed the countries’ opposition to “any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region.”</p><p>“We reaffirm our strong opposition to the use of coast guard, military, and maritime militia forces to harass, obstruct, or intimidate lawful operations by other States at sea or in the air, and in so doing endanger the safety of personnel and fishermen and seriously degrade regional peace and security,” they said.</p><p>“We urge the parties to abide by the 2016 Award and resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and other lawful mechanisms in accordance with international law,” they added.</p><p>Ten years since the tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, China&#x27;s aggression in the West Philippine Sea continues, with its government claiming the decision is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO7dOIUxx78">&quot;illegal, invalid, and has no binding force.&quot;</a></p><p>Chinese scholars recently claimed that the Philippines’ northernmost province, Batanes, is a &quot;natural geographic extension&quot; of Taiwan and thus belongs to China.</p><p>The Department of Foreign Affairs and other Philippine government agencies have dismissed the claim and asserted that the Philippines’ sovereignty over Batanes is<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/10/dfa-says-philippine-sovereignty-over-batanes-not-up-for-debate-1031"> “settled and not up for debate.”</a></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LO7dOIUxx78?si=UnHDz5sRqNjoro2e" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Philippines and 13 other countries have reaffirmed the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/16/read-arbitral-courts-ruling-on-philippines-vs-china">2016 Philippines-China South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award</a> that recognizes the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, in celebration of the ruling’s 10th anniversary.</p>

The Philippines and 13 other countries have reaffirmed the 2016 Philippines-China South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award that recognizes the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, in celebration of the ruling’s 10th anniversary.

PH, 13 countries reaffirm 2016 arbitral award on its 10th year

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PH, 13 countries reaffirm 2016 arbitral award on its 10th year

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 12, 2026 08:41 AM PHT

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China

Philippines

South China Sea

West Philippine Sea

2016 arbitral award

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