West PH Sea: SBMA marks arbitral ruling anniv with water salute in Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Sunday honored the 10th anniversary of the country’s landmark 2016 arbitral victory in the West Philippine Sea with a simultaneous water salute at the Subic Bay Freeport.

The tribute, accompanied by the synchronized sounding of tugboat horns, commemorated what is widely regarded as one of the most significant legal victories in Philippine history.

The ceremony paid tribute to the ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims under its “nine-dash line” and reaffirmed the Philippines’ maritime rights under international law.  

READ: WPS: 14 countries reaffirm ruling vs Beijing’s South China Sea claims

On July 12, 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring that China’s “nine-dash line” has no legal basis under international law.

The tribunal also recognized Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) as a traditional fishing ground where Filipino, Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen have long exercised customary fishing rights, and found that China had unlawfully prevented Filipino fishermen from accessing the shoal.

A decade later, however, China continues to reject the landmark ruling. Filipino fishermen continue to report harassment by the China Coast Guard, including being driven away from the shoal, blocked from entering its lagoon, and forced to fish farther from one of their traditional fishing grounds, reflecting the gap between the tribunal’s decision and the realities they face at sea.—  John Patrick Mateo/Contributor INQ /dl

READ: 10 years after WPS victory, hope outlasts hardship for PH fishers