US, UK, 12 nations reaffirm 2016 ruling against China's South China Sea claims

The United States, the United Kingdom, and a dozen other Western and Asian nations have jointly reaffirmed a landmark 2016 arbitration ruling that declared China's extensive claims in the South China Sea illegal. The joint statement, issued Sunday, explicitly rejected "destabilizing" actions in the disputed waters that threaten regional peace and stability.

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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.'

This declaration marks the anniversary of a July 12, 2016, ruling by a tribunal established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The nations involved stated that this decision remains "final, legally binding and definitive." China, however, has consistently rejected the ruling, which largely favored the Philippines after a tense standoff in 2013. Beijing continues to assert claims over virtually the entire sea passage, a critical global trade route and a persistent flashpoint for territorial disputes.

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We reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region.

The statement underscored that there is "no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including those based on 'historic rights.'" The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which governs the world's oceans, was ratified by over 170 countries, including China and the Philippines. The signatories, which also include Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovenia, reiterated their strong opposition to any actions, including the use of force or coercion, that endanger regional security.

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The nations stressed “our 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 in so doing endanger the safety of personnel and fishermen and seriously degrade regional peace and security.”

They specifically condemned the use of coast guard, military, and maritime militia forces to harass lawful operations at sea, endangering personnel and fishermen. The nations emphasized the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as other lawful uses of the sea as defined by UNCLOS, and called for peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in accordance with the convention.

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Freedom of navigation and overflight as well as other internationally lawful uses of the sea as reflected in UNCLOS” must be upheld, the countries said, adding that the territorial disputes should be resolved peacefully based on the 1982 UN convention.