Philippines, 13 other countries call for ‘peaceful resolution’ of maritime dispute decade after landmark arbitral ruling

It remains to be a major talking point in the geopolitical scene of the region.

On Sunday, July 12, the tenth anniversary of the landmark arbitral ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands on the dispute between the Philippines and China is being commemorated.

On the said day, 13 other countries joined the Philippines in emphasizing that the PCA ruling is legal and binding, as it abides by International Law.

The countries that participated in the statement are Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable, and rules-based, anchored in international law, and commemorate the 10th anniversary of the July 12, 2016, Arbitral Tribunal’s landmark and unanimous decision on the South China Sea constituted under Annex VII of UNCLOS,” it opened.

UNCLOS stands for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The message continued, “We reaffirm that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with UNCLOS.”

Furthermore, the group emphasized: “We reaffirm that the Award rendered ten years ago by the Arbitral Tribunal 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.“

The countries also strongly opposed China’s expansive maritime claims through its nine-dash line (and succeeding updates), as there is “no legal basis,” including the “historic rights” that the East Asian country claims to have.

“We underscore the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as other internationally lawful uses of the sea, as reflected in UNCLOS,” they added.

Moreover, the governments also reiterated their strong opposition to any “destabilizing or unilateral actions” including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region.  

“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 told.

Thus, the countries urged the parties to abide by the 2016 Award and resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and other lawful mechanisms in accordance with international law.

“We remain steadfast in our support for a free and open Indo-Pacific and reiterate our commitment to promoting our shared vision with ASEAN of the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity driven by vibrant lawful commerce,” the joint statement on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the ruling concluded.

MARCOS: ADHERENCE TO INT’L LAW NON-NEGOTIABLE, IRREPLACEABLE, AND NON-OPTIONAL

Meanwhile, last Friday, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. spoke at a diplomatic reception in Pasay City to mark the historic legal victory of the country.

During which, he reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to international law and the “rules-based international order.”

He noted in his addess that this win represents more than a legal victory, but a reaffirmation that disputes must be settled diplomatically than by force or coercion.

“As we mark the conclusion of today’s landmark commemorative conference, we gather not merely to celebrate a legal milestone, but to reaffirm a living truth that peace can only endure when it is anchored on justice, mutual respect, and the sovereign equality of all nations,” said the Chief Executive.

PBBM also noted that the country deliberately chose “dialogue over confrontation, law over intimidation, and peace over conflict,” reflecting its enduring faith in a rules-based international order when it raised the case before the PCA in 2013.

For him, the rhe rule of law serves as “the great equalizer of all nations,” as it ensurees justice is not determined by military strength, territorial size, or economic power, but by universally accepted legal principles and treaty obligations.

“[T]he 2016 Arbitral Award is not just an abstract triumph of jurisprudence. It has a profound and deeply human dimension,” said Marcos, who emphasized that it is “about people” such as fisherfolk and coastal communities, whose lives and livelihoods are affected by the dispute.

“When we defend the rule of law, we are not merely defending lines on a map. We are defending the lives, the livelihoods, and the future of our peoples,” the Chief Executive stressed.

He also emphasized: “Adherence to international law has proven to be non-negotiable, irreplaceable, non- optional.”

This, as he noted that the arbitral award is an important reference in the interpretation and application of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The President also expressed that the Philippines remains firmly committed to the United Nations Charter and UNCLOS while pursuing peaceful and constructive engagement with all nations.

“Our pursuit of peace is not passive. It requires the courage to defend what is right, to uphold our international commitments, and to engage constructively with all who seek mutual respect and shared prosperity. We hold a simple but unwavering conviction,” President Marcos said.

He then stated that the South China Sea must never be an “arena of conflict,” but rather a “sea of peace, cooperation, and connectivity.”

Marcos also called on different governments, diplomats, legal experts, and the international community to continue upholding international law and strengthening cooperation to safeguard peace and security.

“The legacy of the 2016 Arbitral Award is still unfolding,” he said, adding that the responsibility to build upon this foundation now belongs to all who believe that “peace is best secured through the rule of law.”

Marcos, Jr. also thanked the Philippines’ international partners for supporting the country’s commitment to a rules-based international order.

Prior to this, Marcos also brought up the matter with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during his recent official visit to Vancouver.

“So we really have to be consistent in that. And I think the rightness in our positioning, in terms of the way we position the Philippines in our foreign policy vis-à-vis the arbitral agreement, arbitral award is validated by countries like Canada who support it and see it as simply an enforcement of international law and the defense of our territorial integrity and the exercise of our sovereign rights within our sovereign territory,” the President said at that time.

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