India on Tuesday called for upholding the freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded commerce in the South China Sea, and backed a 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal that rejected Beijing's extensive territorial claims over the resource-rich region. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at a media briefing that India's position on the South China Sea issue is well known, emphasizing the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS. Jaiswal reaffirmed that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with UNCLOS, and reiterated that the award rendered 10 years ago by the arbitral tribunal is a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties. India has been pitching for a rules-based order in the region including through upholding adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS.
The United States, United Kingdom, and 15 other Western and Asian countries issued a joint statement on July 12 commemorating the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 arbitration ruling by a tribunal established in The Hague under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The nations rejected what they called 'destabilising' actions in the disputed waters that threaten regional peace. The announcement commemorated a July 12, 2016, arbitration ruling by a tribunal established in The Hague under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the nations described as 'a significant milestone and is final, legally binding and definitive.' The move reinforces support for a rules-based Indo-Pacific and sharpens opposition to coercive actions affecting navigation, overflight and maritime operations in the region. The nations stressed 'our strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region' and emphasized that 'freedom of navigation and overflight as well as other internationally lawful uses of the sea as reflected in UNCLOS' must be upheld. The signatories include the United States, United Kingdom, Philippines, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia.
The arbitration tribunal largely decided in favour of the Philippines, ruling that under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 'there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights' to resources in the South China Sea outside of its regular territorial areas recognised under the convention. As reported by Associated Press, the nations reaffirmed that 'there is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including those based on 'historic rights.' The convention, which took effect in 1994 and has been ratified by more than 170 countries and parties, including China and the Philippines, serves as the treaty governing the world's oceans and seas. The signatories further reaffirm the tribunal's finding that there is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including claims based on historic rights, with the statement explicitly stating 'We reaffirm the Arbitral Tribunal's decision that there is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including those based on `historic rights.'
Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown announced $18 million in new maritime assistance in Manila as foreign envoys urged stronger security cooperation to improve domain awareness and operational capabilities. According to Associated Press, the European Union (EU) on Sunday called on parties involved in the South China Sea dispute to fully implement the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling, marking the decision's 10th anniversary with a renewed appeal for adherence to international law and peaceful dispute resolution. The ambassadors stressed that defending international law requires practical cooperation, including joint drills and intelligence sharing, to counter destabilizing actions threatening regional peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres 'Dindo' Manhit noted that 86% of Filipinos support continued defense of the West Philippine Sea, emphasizing the need for a modern, integrated defense posture. The signatories further reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and rules-based, anchored in international law, with the statement declaring that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
China did not immediately respond on Sunday but issued a recent statement through its embassy in Manila, calling the 2016 ruling 'illegal, null and void.' As reported by Associated Press, the Chinese embassy stated that 'the award will not alter the historical and factual basis for China's sovereignty over the islands of the South China Sea and their adjacent waters.' The Chinese embassy added that the ruling 'will not weaken China's resolve and determination to safeguard its sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.' The 'nine-dash line' claim that China has maintained continues to lack legal basis under UNCLOS, with Beijing rejecting the 2016 ruling and defending its claims to virtually the entire sea passage, a key global trade route that has long been feared as one of Asia's most active flashpoints. There have been growing concerns over China's sweeping claims of sovereignty over all of the South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons, with several countries in the region including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei having counterclaims.
The nations stressed their 'strong opposition to the use of coast guard, military and maritime militia forces to harass, obstruct, intimidate lawful operations by other states at sea or in the air' and emphasized that 'freedom of navigation and overflight as well as other internationally lawful uses of the sea as reflected in UNCLOS' must be upheld. According to Associated Press, the territorial disputes should be resolved peacefully based on the 1982 UN convention, with the United States repeatedly calling on China to comply with the arbitration ruling and both the Biden and Trump administrations warning that Washington is obligated to defend the Philippines if Filipino forces come under armed attack in the disputed waters. The signatories urge parties to comply with the 2016 award and resolve disputes through dialogue and other lawful mechanisms under international law, while remaining committed to a shared vision with ASEAN of the South China Sea as an area of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity supported by lawful commerce. The joint stance sharpens pressure on Beijing and underlines rising alarm over coercive actions at sea.
