On Saturday (July 12), the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague marked the ninth anniversary of its judgment on sovereignty in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines. The court ruled that China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea lacked legal basis under international law. The Philippines and China (PRC) have issued starkly different statements in response, with the United States Secretary of State also releasing a third-party statement.
The Philippines emphasized the legality of the ruling, stating that it “set an inspiring precedent for countries facing similar maritime challenges.” Beijing, on the other hand, staunchly refused to accept or implement the ruling, instead accusing “external forces” of destabilizing the South China Sea.
Official Chinese propaganda has long accused the Philippines of causing trouble in the South China Sea and following the directives of its treaty ally, the United States. However, nearly every neighboring country of China has been similarly complained about using the same pretext.
The U.S. has stated that the ruling is legally binding on both China and the Philippines, urging China to abide by the arbitration decision and cease its dangerous and destabilizing actions.
The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday commemorated the ninth anniversary of the landmark ruling, emphasizing the legality of the decision, stating that it “set an inspiring precedent for countries facing similar maritime challenges.”
In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said, “It most clearly reminds the international community that the rule of law can be an important equalizer between nations and a cornerstone of peace and stability in the international community.”
“The arbitration ruling will continue to be the cornerstone of the Philippines’ maritime policy and the foundation of the country’s unwavering advocacy for establishing a rules-based international order.”
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated publicly during the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2024 that the maritime boundaries drawn by the Philippines in the (South China) sea are not based on their imagination but on international law.
Over the past year, tensions have escalated between China and the Philippines, with the Philippines showing determination in defending its rights and claims in the West Philippine Sea, including maritime areas within its Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea.
The confrontations at sea between the two sides are often tense and dangerous, with China using its coast guard ships to block Philippine vessels from reaching the grounded ship at the Reed Bank.
Reports indicate that the Philippines is considering initiating new United Nations arbitration to address its maritime disputes with Beijing.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Saturday that the arbitration ruling nine years ago, which is legally binding on both China and the Philippines, was an important milestone and laid a beneficial foundation for peacefully resolving disputes in the South China Sea.
The Secretary of…