US, UK, and Allies Reaffirm 2016 Ruling Against China's South China Sea Claims

A coalition of 14 nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia, has jointly reaffirmed a landmark 2016 ruling that declared China's extensive maritime claims in the South China Sea illegal. The joint statement, issued on Sunday, explicitly rejected what they termed "destabilizing" actions that threaten regional peace and stability in the disputed waters.

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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.'

The announcement marked the anniversary of a July 12, 2016, arbitration ruling by a tribunal established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The nations involved described the decision as a "significant milestone" that is "final, legally binding and definitive." China, however, has consistently rejected this ruling since its inception in 2013, when the Philippines initiated arbitration following a tense standoff.

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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.

Beijing continues to assert claims over virtually the entire South China Sea, a vital global trade route fraught with territorial disputes involving China and several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The statement reiterated the tribunal's finding that "there is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims... including those based on 'historic rights.'"

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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.”

The participating countries, which also included Germany, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, and several Baltic states, underscored their "strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion." They specifically condemned the use of coast guard, military, and maritime militia forces to harass or obstruct lawful operations by other states. The statement concluded by emphasizing the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, as stipulated in UNCLOS, and called for peaceful resolution of territorial disputes based on the 1982 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.