Key facts
- 14 nations, including the US and UK, reaffirmed a 2016 arbitration ruling invalidating China's South China Sea claims.
- The joint statement emphasized the 2016 ruling is final, legally binding, and definitive.
- The countries rejected "destabilizing" actions and coercion in the South China Sea.
- The statement stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- The Philippines and China have engaged in recent maritime confrontations.
Fourteen nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and the Philippines, jointly reaffirmed a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea. The joint statement, issued on Sunday, rejected "destabilizing" actions and coercion that threaten regional peace and security, emphasizing that the landmark decision is final, legally binding, and definitive.
The 2016 ruling, established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), largely favored the Philippines, which initiated the arbitration after a 2012 standoff. China, however, rejects the ruling and continues to assert its claims over the vital trade route.
The signatory nations reiterated their opposition to the use of maritime forces to harass lawful operations and stressed the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight. They called for territorial disputes to be resolved peacefully in accordance with the 1982 UN convention.
China has consistently rejected the arbitration award, stating it does not alter the historical basis for its sovereignty in the South China Sea. Recent years have seen increased territorial confrontations, with Chinese coast guard vessels employing tactics such as water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine forces.