PH's arbitral win underscores rule of law, not might, matters

In the face of continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the national government reaffirmed its commitment to uphold the July 12, 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling that declared China's nine-dash line (now 10-dash line) claims, including those within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), have no legal basis under international law.

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The Department of National Defense (DND) said the arbitral ruling is a simple yet powerful reminder that “the rule of law matters,” especially in the face of harassment.

“The Arbitral Award, which clearly affirmed our sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea, is not merely a legal pronouncement. It is a resounding declaration that the only legitimate guide for the conduct of nations is the rule of law—never the imposition of might,” DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on the eve of the anniversary on Friday, July 11.

He said the Philippines views the award not just as a cornerstone of the Marcos administration's foreign and security policy, "but as an irreducible truth."

"We continue to uphold the Award because it reflects what is right and just-not just for us, but for all coastal states whose rights must be respected under international law. No amount of pressure, reinterpretation, or power plays can erase that truth," Teodoro underscored.

He said that this is particularly important since the Philippines is an archipelagic nation whose very existence is intertwined with the maritime domain, and respect for international law is not just a principle but also a lifeline.