12-7-2023 (BEIJING) China has reiterated its rejection of the Philippines’ South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal ruling from 2016, which invalidated Beijing’s claims to almost the entire South China Sea, according to the Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday (July 12). Spokesperson Wang Wenbing stated that China does not accept any claim or action based on the ruling and that the tribunal violated the principle of state consent, went beyond its authority, and perverted the law.
The South China Sea is a major shipping lane where around US$3 trillion worth of sea-borne goods pass every year. The landmark arbitration case was won by the Philippines exactly seven years ago, and it invalidated China’s expansive claims in the region.
The Philippines marked the anniversary of the ruling by launching a website containing “official information” about Manila’s arbitration victory against Beijing, as reported by Nikkei Asia.
Despite the ruling, China has continued to assert its claims over the disputed waters, leading to tensions with other countries in the region, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The US has also been conducting regular naval patrols in the area to assert its commitment to freedom of navigation.
