Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Facebook)

The G7 countries' backing of the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) will strengthen the Philippines' position in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Thus, said Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, referring to the international court ruling that invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea (SCS), particularly the nine-dash-line. “We thank the G7 led by the United States (US) for their expression of support. This will strengthen our position that China should respect the ruling won during the Aquino administration and should recognize our territorial sovereignty over several islets, waters and the resources in them that China is claiming,” Rodriguez said. The G7 or Group of Seven is an intergovernmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom (UK) and the US, says Wikipedia. It considers the EU as a "non-enumerated" member. Rodriguez said the disputed islands, reefs and shoals are within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) established under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In their statement, the G7 leaders said, “We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribune on July 12, 2026 is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.” “There is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and we oppose China’s militarization activities in the region,” they said. Rodriguez said the G7 statement is a rejection of China’s sweeping territorial assertion, and its continued occupation and militarization of several islands. “Beijing should now abandon that assertion, which has no basis in international law,” stressed the Mindanaoan, who chairs the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.