2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award 'not subject to negotiation or compromise' - DFA
The Philippines reaffirmed that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award is final and not subject to negotiation on its 10th anniversary. Officials emphasized that the ruling remains a permanent legal foundation for the country's foreign policy despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Why it matters
This stance underscores the Philippines' commitment to international law and UNCLOS as a primary defense against territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
The Philippines firmly declared that the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award is "not subject to negotiation or compromise," as it marked the ruling's 10th anniversary and reaffirmed its commitment to defending the country's maritime rights through international law.
Speaking at the commemorative conference titled "A Decade Hence: The Enduring Promise of Peaceful Dispute Settlement," Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said the award remains a permanent legal foundation for the country's foreign policy despite continued challenges in the West Philippine Sea.
"This award is final. It is legally binding," she said Friday, July 10.
"It is not a mere statement of policy. It is not subject to negotiation or compromise. It is an unshakable, permanent anchor of our rules-based international order," she added.
Lazaro likened the arbitral ruling to a lighthouse that continues to guide nations amid rising geopolitical tensions.
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