PH asserts WPS arbitral ruling amid ‘criticisms’ in Beijing

The Philippines asserts arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea. Photo from the AFP/PCG/BFAR.

MANILA, Philippines—Responding to criticisms at a forum in Beijing, the Philippine Embassy on Sunday said it asserted the “legal authority” of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, which ruled that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement, the Embassy said its representatives attended a forum in Beijing, China, last Thursday, that was organized by a Chinese think tank. The forum was held on the penultimate eve of the Award’s ninth anniversary, which the Philippines won on July 12.

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The Philippine Embassy said the forum “claimed to bring together scholars, legal experts, and policymakers to engage in in-depth discussions on the historical and legal dimensions of the South China Sea.”

The Embassy, however, noted the “predominant criticism of the Award and of Philippine policy and actions in the [South China Sea] region” while at the forum.

In response, the Philippine Embassy said during an opportunity for an intervention that the “Award, along with its annexes. proves the validity and legality of Philippine claims and they are available for everyone to study and read.”

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 ruled in favor of the Philippines, affirming its exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippines Sea under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

It also dismissed China’s nine-dash line claims as having no legal basis, noting that the Unclos “superseded any maritime entitlements based on historic rights in excess of the limits imposed by Unclos.”

The Embassy also denounced notions that the Philippines was the “troublemaker” in the South China Sea and was refusing to engage in proper dialogue with China.

“We disagree with the notion that the Philippines is not willing to engage with China. In fact, even with the Arbitral Award, the Philippines has continued to make efforts to keep lines of communication open, maintain proper dialogue, and engage positively with China as well as other claimant States, both bilaterally and regionally, within the context of our legally settled claims in accordance with Unclos and international law,” the Philippine Embassy said.

“We hope China’s actions demonstrate genuine willingness to engage and to produce constructive and positive outcomes,” it added. /mr