DFA Statement on the Ninth Anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea

MANILA 12 July 2025 – Today, the Philippines commemorates the ninth anniversary of the landmark ruling on the South China Sea Arbitration. Since its promulgation by the Arbitral Tribunal, this Arbitral Award continues to serve as a guide for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law and its dispute settlement mechanisms, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is considered the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.