Blurb: The US, UK and 12 other countries renewed support for the landmark arbitration ruling, rejecting China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Tokyo
A coalition of 14 countries, including Japan, the Philippines, and the United States, has reaffirmed that China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis under international law.
The joint statement was issued on Sunday to mark the tenth anniversary of a landmark international arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping sovereignty claims over much of the strategically important waterway.
The statement commemorates the 2016 decision delivered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which ruled overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines in a case challenging China’s claims in the South China Sea.
The tribunal concluded that Beijing’s extensive claims, often represented by its nine-dash line, were inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and therefore had no legal foundation.
In their joint declaration, the participating countries emphasized that the tribunal’s award remains a significant milestone in the development of international maritime law. They stressed that the decision is final, legally binding, and definitive between China and the Philippines, underscoring the importance of respecting international legal mechanisms for resolving disputes.
The statement was endorsed by Australia, Britain, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Philippines, Romania, Slovenia, and the United States.
The coordinated declaration reflects growing international concern over rising tensions in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes and a region believed to contain significant energy and fishing resources.
Relations between the Philippines and China have remained strained in recent years due to repeated confrontations in contested waters. Manila has accused Beijing’s coast guard and maritime forces of carrying out dangerous maneuvers within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, including incidents involving water cannons, vessel collisions, and attempts to obstruct Philippine resupply missions to disputed features.
