9 years after arbitral win: PH reaffirms commitment to defend WPS
Philippine News Agency
By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora and Priam Nepomuceno
July 12, 2025, 1:11 pm
MANILA -- The Philippines will continue to assert its rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) using the landmark 2016 Arbitral Ruling as its guide, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday.
The landmark decision, released by the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal in 2016, officially marks its 9th anniversary on July 12.
"Along with the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), the Arbitral Award will continue to be a cornerstone of Philippine maritime policy and the country's unflinching advocacy for a rules-based order governed by international law," the DFA said in a statement.
"The Filipino nation will always look to the enduring guidance of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea in asserting its rights and entitlements in its maritime domain and in protecting its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction."
The DFA noted that since its issuance, the ruling has served as a framework for the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes.
The historic award has since been entrenched in international jurisprudence, with the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) citing it in rendering their decisions, "further reinforcing" its legitimacy and finality, the department added.
Describing the ruling as an "illuminating precedent" for nations facing similar challenges, the DFA said the decision remains a clear reminder that the rule of law is a powerful equalizer and a foundation for global peace and stability.
Beyond marking this milestone, Manila will continue to honor the award by enhancing public awareness of maritime entitlements and other rights and obligations under the UNCLOS, it said.
The Philippine government, it added, would also leverage more partnerships with like-minded countries in upholding the rule of law.
Defending WPS
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the AFP remains committed to defending and safeguarding the Philippines' interests in the WPS.
"Nine years ago today, the world listened and sided with the truth. On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration upheld the Philippines' sovereign rights in the WPS. This is more than a legal ruling but a recognition of what every Filipino has long held in their heart - that these waters, resources, and legacy - are rightfully ours," Brawner said.
He described the WPS as a lifeline and a vital waterway that feeds thousands of Filipinos.
"That is why the AFP remains fully committed to safeguarding it. Every day, our soldiers, sailors, and airmen stand watch. We patrol the skies and guard our waters. We work hand-in-hand with other government agencies to make sure our fisherfolks are safe and our maritime domain is protected," he said.
Brawner noted that efforts are being done quietly and without fanfare because the AFP believes in service that speaks for itself.
"We do this because when it comes to our sovereignty, there is no compromise," he said, adding that the mission to protect the WPS goes beyond military work.
"This mission is not just ours. It is shared with every Filipino. And we draw strength from your trust and support. Because when the Filipino people are united, we are unstoppable," he said.
"The WPS is part of our inheritance. It is our duty to protect it with courage, wisdom, and unity."
On July 12, 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention dismissed as illegal China's so-called nine-dash line in the vital sea lane.
The invisible demarcation, which has since expanded into a 10-dash line, covers and lays territorial claim over a huge portion of the South China Sea, including the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. (PNA)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
