Nations reaffirm ruling invalidating China's claims in South China Sea
A coalition of 14 nations, including the U.S. and U.K., has issued a joint statement reaffirming the 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea. China continues to reject the ruling as null and void.
Why it matters
The ongoing dispute over the South China Sea remains a major geopolitical flashpoint involving international trade routes and territorial sovereignty.
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The United States, the United Kingdom and a dozen other Western and Asian countries reasserted on Sunday that China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea are illegal based on a 2016 arbitration ruling.
A joint statement issued by the 14 nations said they rejected “destabilizing” actions in the disputed waters that threaten regional stability. The 27-nation European Union released a separate statement, reaffirming the ruling as a “landmark decision in the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
The statements commemorated a July 12, 2016, arbitration ruling by a tribunal established in The Hague under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, saying the landmark decision is “is final and legally binding.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in