The Philippines has abused the dispute settlement mechanism of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Chinese Embassy in Manila spokesperson said on Saturday, July 12, for an “illegal award” that is being played up by the United States and its allies.
9 years on, China stands firm vs PH sea claim
Published Jul 12, 2025 02:57 pm
A man holds the flags of China and the Philippines. (AP Photo)
The spokesperson gave the remarks during the 9th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal award that invalidated the basis of China’s claims in the resource-rich South China Sea.
During policy think-tank Stratbase’s Symposium on the 9th Year of the Arbitral Victory Forum on Friday, July 11, several ambassadors expressed their continued support for the Philippines’ arbitral win and underscored the importance of adhering to the UNCLOS and other relevant international laws.
But China stood firm that it will not recognize the award.
“China’s position on the so-called South China Sea arbitration and the award is consistent, clear and firm. The said arbitration is essentially a political circus dressed up as a legal action,” the embassy said.
“The award thus rendered is illegal, null and void. China does not accept or recognize it, and will never accept any claim or action thereon,” it added.
The embassy, instead, alleged that the Philippines “breached the common understandings with China” on resolving the disputes through consultation and negotiation and through the non-binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
“It has abused the UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanism, ignored China’s declaration which, according to UNCLOS, excludes maritime delimitation from compulsory dispute settlement procedures, and insisted on initiating the arbitration unilaterally,” it stated.
The embassy furthered that the arbitral win was being used by the United States and its allies “to play up the issue of the illegal award against China in a vain attempt to exert pressure on, and force China into accepting the award.”
“Such behavior is doomed to be futile, and China firmly opposes it,” the embassy stressed, adding that the arbitration was aimed at disrupting peace in the South China Sea region and serving the “own interests” of those who are interfering in the issue.
The embassy clarified that it is China that is “upholding the principle of international rule of law and the authority of UNCLOS” and that together with the member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), it intends to accelerate consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.