Fourteen nations have come together to declare that China’s sweeping territorial claims over the South China Sea are without legal foundation, issuing a joint statement Sunday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of a major international court decision.
Back in 2016, the Philippines secured a victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which determined that China’s broad assertion of sovereignty over the South China Sea violated international law. China has never accepted that decision and continues to reject it to this day.
The joint statement made clear where the signatory nations stand: “We reaffirm that the award rendered ten years ago by the Arbitral Tribunal is a significant milestone and is final, legally binding, and definitive between China and the Philippines.”
Tensions between the Philippines and China in the region have escalated in recent years. Manila has accused Beijing of carrying out “dangerous manoeuvres” within its exclusive economic zone, including deploying water cannons to disrupt supply missions to areas under Philippine control.
In addition to the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, the joint statement was signed by Australia, Britain, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, and Slovenia.
