China issues statement over 'South China Sea arbitration award' hype

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday issued a statement regarding certain countries' hype on the 10th anniversary of the so-called South China Sea arbitration award. The statement expressed firm objection to the "award," criticizing it for violating fundamental principles of international law and failing to resolve maritime issues between China and the Philippines and instead exacerbating tensions in the region.

It also urged relevant countries to respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, stop stirring up trouble and cease undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

On July 12, 2026, the governments of the United States of America, the Republic of the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia and the United Kingdom released a joint statement on the so-called South China Sea arbitration award. 

In Sunday's statement, China's foreign ministry reaffirmed China's sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea, saying China's sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and its related rights and interests in the South China Sea were established over a long historical process. 

"China is the first to have continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over Nanhai Zhudao and relevant waters," read the statement, "Nanhai Zhudao have long been widely recognized by the international community as part of China's territory."

The statement stressed the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, saying the South China Sea is one of the safest sea lanes in the world. It stated that China remains steadfast in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. In response to certain countries' infringements and provocations in the South China Sea, China has taken resolute measures to defend its rights and interests - measures that are reasonable, legitimate, professional and restrained. 

It accused the US and other external countries of continuously reinforcing their military presence in the South China Sea, saying these acts of militarization and coercion constitute the primary challenge to the current situation in the region.

Meanwhile, the statement stressed that land territorial issues are not subject to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It said that with the optional exceptions declaration China made in 2006 pursuant to Article 298 of the Convention, maritime delimitation disputes have been excluded from the compulsory dispute settlement procedures under UNCLOS. 

"China does not accept any imposed solution with respect to territorial issues and maritime delimitation disputes," read the statement. It emphasized that China is committed to resolving the relevant disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation and consultation with countries directly concerned, on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with international law, so as to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The statement voiced clear and firm opposition to the "award", saying the so-called arbitration violates fundamental principles of international law, including state consent and pacta sunt servanda, contravenes UNCLOS itself, and runs counter to the basic facts of the South China Sea. 

"The so-called 'award' is nothing but a worthless piece of paper that is illegal, null and void, and has no binding force. China does not accept or recognize the 'award,' and opposes and does not accept any claim or action based on it," the statement read.

It stated that for the past 10 years, the "award" has not only failed to resolve the maritime issues between China and the Philippines, but instead has become a tool for the Philippines to expand its territorial and maritime claims, exacerbated tensions in the region and provided a pretext for external forces to intervene and destabilize the South China Sea.

The statement added that the continued playing up of the illegal "award" by certain countries is inconsistent with the trend of peace and stability in the region, and goes against the aspirations of countries and people in the region for development and prosperity. It urged the relevant countries to earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, stop stirring up trouble over the South China Sea issue, and cease undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea.