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China rejects South China Sea ruling
China: The United States, Australia, Japan, and 11 other countries has rejected Beijing's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea on 12th July 2026 (Sunday), celebrating a decade of a landmark arbitral ruling that Beijing has refused to accept, as per the joint statement issued by the governments.
The joint statement is released by Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, New Zeeland, the Philippines, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, reaffirmed that the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal award is “final, legal binding, and definitive” between China and the Philippines. The countries claimed that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, consisting of those based on “historic rights”.
On Monday, 13th July 2026 China has responded with a strongly worded statement on Monday, neglecting the joint statement from the US and its allies and reiterating its long-standing position that the arbitral award is illegal and do not have any binding force. China also stated that the award is nothing more than a worthless piece of paper and blames the US and its allies of "persistently reinforcing military presence in the South China Sea, throwing their weight around and fanning the flames."
The Philippines initiated the arbitration in January 2013 under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, was concluded on 12th July 2016, with the Permanent Court of Arbitration serving as registry. The tribunal ruled that China’s claims based on “historic rights” within the nine-dash line is null and void legally, and the certain maritime features were rocks instead of islands, entitling them to limited maritime zones. However, China did not participate in the presided over by Judge Thomas A. Mensah.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the day of award declaring that the award “is null and void and has no binding force. China neither accept nor recognizes it”. The statement further states that the Philippines’ unilateral initiation of arbitration was “out of bad faith” and aimed "not to resolve the relevant disputes between China and the Philippines, or to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, but to deny China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea."
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The joint statement expresses strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions consisting of force or coercion which threaten peace and stability in the region. The joint statement further condemned the use of coast guard, military, and maritime militia forces to “harass, obstruct, or intimidate lawful operations by other States.”
The EU has also released a separate statement marking the 10th anniversary of the award, as per the statement by the Council of the EU. The European Union’s High Representative reaffirmed the bloc’s support for the ruling and called for the peaceful dispute in accordance with international law.
In response to global backlash China’s foreign ministry stated that its sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and relevant rights and interests "have been established in the long course of history" and that the country has "continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction."
China further said it remains committed to resolving disputes through diplomacy with countries who are directly concerned, "on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with international law."
China even accused the Philippines of using the award to expand its territorial and maritime claims and further said that the award has "exacerbated tensions in the region and provided a pretext for external forces to intervene and destabilize the South China Sea." The Foreign Ministry of China also urged the relevant countries to “stop stirring up trouble over the South China Sea issue.”
