Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
10 years after landmark victory, PH stands united in defense of West Philippine Sea
Philippines
National
10 years after landmark victory, PH stands united in defense of West Philippine Sea
10 years after landmark victory, PH stands united in defense of West Philippine Sea
Published Jul 12, 2026 11:21 am
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Updated Jul 12, 2026 01:30 pm
At A Glance
- The country marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award with nationwide activities that highlighted unity in defending the West Philippine Sea, as officials described its protection as a "whole-of-nation" commitment.
- The Department of National Defense, National Security Council, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and foreign partners reaffirmed support for the rules-based maritime order, with the DND vowing to uphold the country's maritime rights while ambassadors from 10 like-minded nations pledged deeper defense and security cooperation.
- Commemorative events were held across the country, including the National Peace Walk in Manila, the Philippine Navy's simultaneous blowing of ships' horns, a 2,000-strong parade in Palawan, and the unveiling of the country's first West Philippine Sea Fisherfolk Monument in Quezon City.
Representatives from various government agencies, uniformed and non-uniformed services, civil society organizations, and the public gather at the Quirino Grandstand in Ermita, Manila on July 12, 2026 for the National Peace Walk 2026, marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
The event underscores the country’s commitment to the rule of law, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the protection of the Philippines’ maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea. (John Louie Abrina/Manila Bulletin)
A decade after the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, the nation marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on Sunday, July 12, with nationwide displays of defiance and unity against coercion in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
From the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to the shores of Puerto Princesa in Palawan, thousands of Filipinos joined government officials and foreign envoys to reaffirm the country’s sovereign rights. The ruling, which invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims, has become a rallying point for a nation now embracing a “whole of nation” approach to territorial defense.
Speaking before participants of the National Peace Walk in Manila, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the anniversary was about more than a legal victory.
“As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, we remember not only a milestone in international law but also something even more important, our shared responsibility as Filipinos,” he said.
The Hague-based tribunal ruled on July 12, 2016 that China's sweeping nine-dash line claim had no legal basis under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The decision affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over resources within its exclusive economic zone, including areas in the WPS.
“The award affirmed our lawful maritime rights. It reminded the world that disputes are not resolved by force, but by law,” Brawner noted.
Brawner also stressed that defending the country's maritime rights is not the military's task alone.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines remains committed to protecting our people, defending our sovereignty, and upholding the rule of law. But this has never been the responsibility of the Armed Forces alone,” he said.
“Protecting what belongs to us, to our nation, is a whole of government effort. More importantly, it is a whole of nation commitment,” he added.
Filipinos' growing support for WPS
Meanwhile, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the growing public support for the WPS has strengthened the country's position.
Teodoro cited a recent survey showing that 86 percent of Filipinos support working with like-minded countries in defending the WPS.
He said public backing is essential as the government strengthens the AFP under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) while sustaining gains in internal security.
Teodoro also said the Philippines has become “a convergence hub for upholding international law,” particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
"Our partnerships are ever increasing because these are based on fundamental freedoms, transparency, and the rule of law unlike sinister and cabalistic United Front Work and illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions," he said.
He vowed that the Department of National Defense and the AFP would continue defending the country's maritime rights.
“Ultimately, we will resist and combat any attempt to deny our rights and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea, for these are not only ours to protect, but also those of future generations of Filipinos,” he said.
For his part, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Oban said the Philippines will continue to pursue peace in the WPS while standing firm on its sovereignty and maritime rights.
“The Philippines does not seek conflict. But our commitment to peace should never be mistaken for hesitation in asserting our rights,” he said during the National Peace Walk in Manila.
“We choose peace, but not silence. We choose dialogue, but not at the expense of principle. We choose cooperation, but never in exchange for our sovereignty and our lawful maritime rights,” he added.
Support from like-minded countries
At a forum hosted by the Stratbase Institute, an independent think tank, ambassadors from Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their support for the Philippines and the rules-based maritime order.
The envoys pledged stronger defense and technical cooperation through joint exercises, maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity, shipbuilding and defense agreements.
French Ambassador Marie Fontanel said international law must be backed by action, noting that “legal principles alone are not enough.”
“Whenever rules are challenged, words must be backed by practical cooperation. Defending international law requires power. Power requires ships, aircraft, joint drills and agreements. It requires that like-minded partners can operate together quickly, credibly and lawfully,” she said.
For German Ambassador Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, he said the ruling remains binding.
“We are convinced that the strength of the law must always prevail over the law of the strong. Right makes might, not might makes right. The 2016 Arbitral Award is final, and it is legally binding on all parties to the dispute. It is not a disputable opinion. It is an authoritative clarification of maritime entitlements,” he said.
Nationwide activities
Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy (PN) ordered a nationwide simultaneous blowing of ships' horns, with vessels sounding 10 long blasts to symbolize a decade of support for the rule of law over force.
In Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, more than 2,000 people joined a WPS parade led by the provincial government and the Atin Ito Coalition, a civilian-led initiative that organizes supply and solidarity missions for Filipino personnel stationed in the WPS.
Participants included fisherfolk, youth groups, civil society organizations and local officials.
The coalition said the arbitral victory must lead to sustained efforts to protect Philippine sovereignty and secure the livelihood of fishing communities that depend on the West Philippine Sea.
In Quezon City, the Atin Ito Coalition and the city government unveiled the West Philippine Sea Fisherfolk Monument at the Quezon Memorial Circle. It is the country's first public monument honoring Filipino fishers who continue to defend the nation's maritime rights despite continuing tensions in the WPS.