Countries call for compliance with arbitral ruling on SCS

On the eighth anniversary of a landmark arbitral court decision that invalidated China’s massive sea claims, the 27-member European Union (EU), the United States, Australia and Japan called on Beijing to abide by the ruling.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

The EU statement, which described the arbitral ruling as “legally binding,” drew a rebuke from Beijing, which has refused to recognize the arbitration process and outcome.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague proved that China’s claims in the South China Sea were inconsistent with international law. The ruling also reaffirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements.

“In its ruling, the Tribunal firmly rejected any PRC (People’s Republic of China) territorial or maritime claim to areas determined by the Tribunal to be part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. As provided under the Convention, the 2016 arbitral decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines,” he said.

Blinken noted that over the past year, China’s use of water cannons, dangerous maneuvers and destructive tactics – including ramming, forcible towing and boarding that resulted in damage to Philippine vessels and injury to Philippine service members – has routinely interfered with the lawful exercise of high seas freedoms in areas where China has no lawful territorial or maritime claims.

“The PRC’s actions reflect a blatant disregard for international law as well as the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos,” Blinken declared.

“The United States remains deeply concerned about the PRC’s assertion of ‘territorial sovereignty’ over vast areas that are clearly within the maritime jurisdiction of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, and where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply under international law,” his statement read.

“Upholding the international law of the sea, as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, is in the interest of the entire international community and remains vital to the peace, security and prosperity of all nations,” Blinken said.