South China Sea Arbitral Award Marks 10 Years

The South China Sea Arbitral Award completed 10 years on 12 July 2026. The award was issued on 12 July 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague under the dispute settlement framework linked to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

South China Sea Arbitration

The arbitration case was filed by the Philippines against China under Annex VII of UNCLOS. The tribunal ruled that China’s Nine-Dash Line claim had no legal basis under international law. The award also dealt with maritime entitlements, artificial islands, and activities in the South China Sea.

UNCLOS and Maritime Zones

UNCLOS, adopted in 1982 and in force from 1994, is the main treaty governing the law of the sea. It defines the territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf. An EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state’s baseline.

State Positions and Regional Context

China has rejected the 2016 award and has not participated in the arbitration. The Philippines marks 12 July as West Philippine Sea Victory Day and links the date with its EEZ claims. Japan, the United States, the Philippines, and 11 other countries issued a joint statement in 2026 calling the award final, legally binding, and definitive.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Permanent Court of Arbitration is an intergovernmental organisation based in The Hague, the Netherlands.
• Annex VII of UNCLOS provides for arbitration when states do not choose the same dispute settlement forum.
• Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal are disputed maritime features in the South China Sea.
• ASEAN has been discussing a legally binding Code of Conduct for the South China Sea.

Recent Developments in 2026

The European Union issued a statement on 11 July 2026 expressing concern over tensions and incidents in the South China Sea. The Philippine Navy and United States Navy vessels held a water salute and horn-blowing ceremony in Subic Bay on 12 July 2026.