Photo credit: Philippine Navy

The Philippines and 13 partner countries have reaffirmed their support for the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, stressing that the ruling remains a key pillar of international law and a vital foundation for maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

In a joint statement marking the 10th anniversary of the tribunal's decision, the countries underscored that the arbitral award is final and legally binding on the parties under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They emphasized that compliance with international law is essential to preserving a rules-based international order and ensuring the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes.

The statement was issued by the Philippines together with Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The partner countries also reaffirmed the importance of respecting freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as other lawful uses of the sea guaranteed under UNCLOS. They called on all states to resolve disputes through peaceful means and to refrain from actions that could increase tensions or undermine regional stability.

The joint statement highlighted the significance of the 2016 arbitral ruling, which clarified the maritime rights and entitlements of the Philippines under international law and reinforced the role of UNCLOS as the legal framework governing activities in the world's oceans.

This year's anniversary serves as a reminder of the Philippines' continued commitment to pursuing a peaceful, rules-based approach in asserting its maritime rights while working with like-minded partners to promote stability, security, and respect for international law in the South China Sea.