The Philippines and 13 partner countries have reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific as they marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award, emphasizing the importance of international law and peaceful resolution of maritime disputes.
In a joint statement released on July 12, 2026, the governments of the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States reiterated that the arbitral ruling under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) remains final and legally binding.
The countries said the tribunal’s decision was a significant milestone in addressing maritime entitlements and claims in the South China Sea.
“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 statement read.
The signatories also cited the tribunal’s conclusion that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including claims based on “historic rights.”
“We reaffirm the Arbitral Tribunal’s decision that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including those based on ‘historic rights’,” the statement added.
The countries stressed the need to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as other lawful uses of the seas as provided under UNCLOS.
They also expressed opposition to actions that could threaten regional peace and stability, including the use of force, coercion, and the deployment of coast guard, military, and maritime militia forces to obstruct or intimidate lawful maritime activities.
“We reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.
The group called on all parties to respect the 2016 ruling and pursue peaceful solutions through dialogue and other lawful mechanisms under international law.
The joint statement concluded by reaffirming support for a South China Sea that remains a “sea of peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity,” aligned with the shared vision of ASEAN and its partners for a rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
