Japan and 13 Nations Reaffirm South China Sea Arbitration Ruling

Tokyo - Japan, the Philippines, the United States, and 11 other nations on Sunday reaffirmed the international arbitration ruling from a decade ago that dismissed Beijing’s broad claims in the South China Sea, calling them devoid of legal basis. In a joint statement, the countries described the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague as a significant milestone and a decision that is final, legally binding, and definitive between China and the Philippines regarding the maritime rights and claims addressed by the tribunal. On 12 July 2016, the court ruled that China has no historic rights to resources in the South China Sea based on its so-called nine-dash line claim, and upheld the Philippines’ claim that China’s actions in the disputed waters violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China rejected the court’s decision. In a statement issued separately on the same day, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said China’s rejection of the ruling contradicts the principle of peaceful dispute resolution and undermines the rule of law within the international community. The 14 nations, which include Australia and the United Kingdom, also reaffirmed their opposition to any destabilising or unilateral actions, including through violence or coercion, that threaten peace and stability in the region. Chinese and Philippine vessels have clashed near disputed shoals in the South China Sea in recent years. Furthermore, the 14 nations urged the relevant parties to comply with the ruling and to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and other legal mechanisms in accordance with international law.