West Philippine Sea Transparency Group

“The United States stands with the Philippines, its oldest treaty Ally in Southeast Asia, as a force for peace and prosperity. China's actions in the South China Sea threaten regional stability and stand in sharp contrast to Philippine forces' professionalism and discipline.” - Ambassador Lipton 🇺🇸🇵🇭 Maraming Salamat po!

If there is any party here that provokes and escalates tension, it is only the unruly and barbaric China Coast Guard personnel who clearly do not understand UNCLOS. Why else would they be this close to BRP Sierra Madre — a Philippine ship, sitting well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, and over 600 nautical miles from Hainan? The provocateur is not the one staying home in his own waters. It is the one who sailed hundreds of miles to swing a baton at him! We have always been the victim and you remained to be the bully!

If there is any party here that provokes and escalates tension, it is only the unruly and barbaric China Coast Guard personnel who clearly do not understand UNCLOS. Why else would they be this close to BRP Sierra Madre — a Philippine ship, sitting well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, and over 600 nautical miles from Hainan? The provocateur is not the one staying home in his own waters. It is the one who sailed hundreds of miles to swing a baton at him! We have always been the victim and you remained to be the bully!

Mr. Goa Way, if there is any party here that provokes and escalates tension, it is only the unruly and barbaric China Coast Guard personnel who clearly do not understand UNCLOS. Why else would they be this close to BRP Sierra Madre — a Philippine ship, sitting well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, and over 600 nautical miles from Hainan? The provocateur is not the one staying home in his own waters. It is the one who sailed hundreds of miles to swing a baton at him! We have always been the victim and you remained to be the bully!

DND Press Release July 16, 2015 Releasing Authority: Asec. Arsenio R. Andolong STATEMENT The post of China Daily depicting the Filipinos as monkeys, is a revealing insight into what the Chinese communist apparatus thinks of the Filipino people. This mockery of the lawful 2016 Arbitral Award and the video’s glorification of violence against the Filipino people and soldiers expose the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China’s propaganda machine. Such contemptible propaganda is a disgrace to any State that claims to exercise responsible regional leadership. It reveals the weakness of a government that resorts to racism, threats, and manufactured hatred because it has utterly failed to defend its ridiculous claims through reason, evidence, or law. We are justified in our policy of no Ministerial or AFP defense engagements or contacts with the CCP or any of its agencies. The recent spate of schizophrenic behavior of the Chinese Communist Party is too clear to disregard or to ignore. This latest act of dehumanization further reveals them as neither a secure and confident actor nor a trustworthy neighbor. Pilipinas huwag magpalinlang! Ang nalilinlang ay nasisiil. Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. Secretary Department of National Defense

📷𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍, 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀: 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀 Thousands of Filipinos from government agencies, the uniformed services, and civil society organizations gathered at the Quirino Grandstand on July 12 for the National Peace Walk, commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award. Led by the 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 (NTF-WPS), the event, themed “Walking in Unity, Celebrating a Decade of Victory,” reaffirmed that defending the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea is a shared responsibility of every Filipino. 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐞𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐨 𝐉𝐫. emphasized that protecting the West Philippine Sea means safeguarding the nation’s heritage and securing a better future for generations to come. 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨 𝐒.𝐋. 𝐎𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐫. highlighted that the issue directly impacts food security, livelihoods, and regional peace, stressing that upholding international law is essential to lasting stability. Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐉𝐫. called for a whole-of-nation approach, reminding Filipinos that every contribution—no matter how small—strengthens the country’s collective commitment to defending its sovereign rights. The event concluded with a solidarity pledge, symbolizing the nation’s unwavering commitment to uphold international law, support a rules-based international order, and protect the Philippines’ maritime rights and interests in the 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚. #NationalPeaceWalk #PeaceWalk2026 #ArbitralAward10 #WestPhilippineSea #UNCLOS #RulesBasedOrder #SovereignPhilippines #SovereigntyIsLivelihood #OurSeasOurFuture #WPSTransparency

13 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 2016 𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃; 𝐑𝐄𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐀'𝐒 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐒 Fourteen countries, including the Philippines, reaffirmed in a joint statement the decision of the 2016 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚'𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 in the South China Sea, including those based 𝐨𝐧 "𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬." Joining the Philippines in supporting the 2016 arbitral ruling were 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚, 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚, 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚, 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲, 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲, 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧, 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐯𝐢𝐚, 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐙𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚, 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. The countries also reaffirmed that the 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐱 𝐕𝐈𝐈 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 (𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒) 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 on the maritime entitlements and claims covered by the case. Moreover, the countries reiterated that they strongly opposed any destabilizing or unilateral actions, including by force or coercion, that threaten peace and stability in the region. They also urged China to abide by the 2016 Award and resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and other lawful mechanisms in accordance with international law. Source: facebook.com/share/p/1Bv9Zn… #WestPhilippineSea #WPSTransparency #2016ArbitralAward #UNCLOS⁩

China’s statement is remarkable not for what it denies, but for what it demands: that sovereign European nations stop respecting international law — or risk their relations with Beijing. Ten years after the 2016 Arbitral Award, the Philippines, the United States, several European states, and the EU reaffirmed a ruling issued by a tribunal duly constituted under UNCLOS — a Convention China signed and ratified. Under Article 296 and Annex VII, that Award is final and binding. There is no “illegal award.” There is only an award China refuses to obey. Beijing’s response was not a legal argument. It was a threat — and coercion is the tell. When your legal case is strong, you cite the law. When it is empty, you warn of “consequences for cooperation.” This is ICAD conduct in written form: illegal in premise, coercive in intent, deceptive in framing. No state that respects international law asks others to abandon it. International law does not expire, does not bend to threats, and does not require China’s permission to be respected.

𝐈𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐈: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐲 2 | 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 9, 2026 The 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 highlighted the 10𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 2016 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 through policy dialogues and expert discussions that revisited the Tribunal's findings, clarified common misconceptions, and reaffirmed the Award's enduring legal, diplomatic, and strategic significance to the Philippines and the international community. A key highlight of the day was the 𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐂. "𝐆𝐢𝐛𝐨" 𝐓𝐞𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐨 𝐉𝐫., who emphasized the need to foster greater 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩—𝐨𝐫 "𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐲𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐩"—𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 through embracing, nurturing, protecting, and exercising stewardship over the country's maritime domain. He also called on 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. The day's discussions likewise examined the 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 121 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒, the 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲, and the 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚. #WestPhilippineSea #NationalWPSSummit #WPSTransparency #2016ArbitralAward

𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇: PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐚, joined key Philippine government officials in the National Peace Walk for the West Philippine Sea at the Quirino Grandstand on July 12, 2026. Last Sunday, thousands of advocates, representatives from various government agencies, and members of our uniformed services joined in a whole-of-government initiative supporting awareness and solidarity for the West Philippine Sea. #WestPhilippineSea #WPSTransparency #2016ArbitralRuling #10thAnniversary

A just cause draws support. The Honorable Chinese Ambassador knows this well! On the 10th anniversary of the Arbitral Award, 14 countries — the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States — issued a joint statement affirming the ruling as final, legally binding, and definitive. China, by contrast, cannot name a single country that supports its invalidated and illegal nine-dash line.

𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊. 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄. 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍. Relive the unforgettable moments from the 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, where thousands of Filipinos came together at the Quirino Grandstand to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award and stand united in support of peace, sovereignty, and the Philippines' lawful rights in the West Philippine Sea. Watch the highlights and be part of the story that continues to inspire a nation. #NationalPeaceWalk2026 #WestPhilippineSea #2016ArbitralAward #UnityForTheNation #PeaceAndSovereignty

𝐈𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐈: 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟏 | 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 8, 2026 As part of the week-long commemoration of the 𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 brought together local and international experts, government officials, policymakers, academics, members of the diplomatic community, media practitioners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to deepen public understanding of international maritime law and the Philippines' rights and interests in the West Philippine Sea. The Day 1 of summit featured capacity-building lectures, policy dialogues, and expert panel discussions on the 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 (𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒), 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, and the Philippines' maritime entitlements. Discussions also covered the country's legal and strategic approaches to the West Philippine Sea, dispute settlement under UNCLOS, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf, and the historical basis of South China Sea claims. The program concluded with the Gala Dinner, featuring keynote addresses and a special lecture on the role of maps and historical records in reinforcing the Philippines' maritime position. The activity successfully enhanced participants' understanding of international maritime law, promoted meaningful dialogue among key stakeholders, and reinforced support for a rules-based international order. It also strengthened collaboration and encouraged informed public engagement in advancing and protecting the Philippines' maritime rights and national interests. #WestPhilippineSea #WPSTransparency #NationalWPSSummit #2016ArbitralRuling #10thAnniversary

Ten years on, the Award stands. Repetition of “null and void” does not make it so. People’s Daily says a falsehood repeated does not become true. We agree — which is why we must correct the falsehoods in its own post. 1. “Illegal, null and void from the outset.” The Arbitral Tribunal was constituted under Annex VII of UNCLOS — a treaty China signed and ratified. Article 288(4) is unambiguous: the Tribunal itself decides disputes over its jurisdiction. Article 296 and Annex VII, Article 11 make its decisions final and binding on the parties. China does not get to ratify a convention, enjoy its benefits for decades, then unilaterally exempt itself from its dispute settlement mechanism. That is not law; that is convenience. 2. “The award infringes upon China’s legitimate rights.” The Tribunal found that the nine-dash line has no basis in international law. Rights that never existed cannot be infringed. What the Award protects are the actual, treaty-based entitlements of coastal states — including the Philippines’ EEZ and continental shelf. 3. “Relying on external forces to stir up trouble.” The Philippines went to court, not to war. Arbitration is the peaceful settlement of disputes that the UN Charter and UNCLOS demand. If invoking law is “stirring up trouble,” what do we call ramming, water cannons, military-grade lasers, and swarming a neighbor’s EEZ with hundreds of militia vessels? We call it what it is: illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive. 4. “Harm to the international rule of law.” The rule of law is harmed by exactly one thing here: a party refusing to comply with a final and binding ruling for ten years. More than 40 states and the EU have called for the Award’s respect. The verdict of the international community is not on our compliance — it is on China’s defiance. The passage of time cannot render an illegal claim legal. Ten years have not legitimized the nine-dash line, and ten more will not. The Award is not “so-called.” It is final, it is binding, and it is the law!

Beijing calls the Award “so-called” — for the tenth straight year. But name-calling doesn’t amend UNCLOS. The facts: China signed the Convention in 1982 and ratified it in 1996. The Tribunal was constituted under Annex VII of that same treaty. Refusing to appear changed nothing — Annex VII, Art. 9 expressly allows proceedings to continue in a party’s absence, and Art. 296 plus Annex VII, Art. 11 make the ruling FINAL and BINDING. No appeal. No expiry date. “Runs counter to basic facts”? Five arbitrators — among the world’s foremost law-of-the-sea experts — ruled unanimously that the nine-dash line has no legal basis under the Convention. That is the record, unbroken for ten years. And on “those preaching peace send warships”: Who built military bases on Mischief Reef, a low-tide elevation on the Philippine continental shelf? Who rams, water-cannons, and lasers civilian vessels inside a neighbor’s EEZ? That conduct is Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive, and Deceptive (ICAD). Beijing says the joint statement “changes nothing.” Agreed — the Award never needed changing. It is final. What has changed in ten years is the number of nations willing to say so publicly. That list keeps growing. The facts are on the record. The law is on our side. Time is not on the side of those who defy both.

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila today, July 12, to commemorate the 10𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 2016 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝. With the theme "𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲," the 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 marks a decade since the landmark ruling on the South China Sea, reaffirming the 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬' 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐰. National Defense Secretary 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐂. 𝐓𝐞𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐨 𝐉𝐫., 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨 𝐒𝐋 𝐎𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐫., 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨 𝐒. 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐉𝐫., 𝐕𝐀𝐃𝐌 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐋 𝐘𝐛𝐚ñ𝐞𝐳, 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝, and other government officials joined thousands of participants during the pledge of unity. Together, we walk as one nation—united in purpose, steadfast in principle, and committed to protecting the West Philippine Sea for present and future generations. #NationalPeaceWalk #PeaceWalk2026 #WalkForPeace #WalkForUnity #ArbitralAward10 #WestPhilippineSea #UNCLOS #RulesBasedOrder #SovereignPhilippines #SovereigntyIsLivelihood #OurSeasOurFuture

Statement of Secretary Eduardo SL Oban Jr Chair, National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea 10th Anniversary Commemoration of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award Today, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea joins the nation in commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. This landmark decision reaffirmed what international law has long recognized: that maritime rights and entitlements are determined by law, not by power or coercion. Rendered pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Award is final and legally binding and remains a lasting affirmation of the rule of law in the maritime domain. A decade later, the Award continues to be recognized and cited in international jurisprudence, reinforcing the rule of law as the strongest foundation for the peaceful settlement of disputes among nations. It likewise affirms the Philippines' sovereign rights and lawful maritime entitlements under international. law. As we commemorate this milestone, we recognize the unwavering dedication of our uniformed personnel, public servants, fisherfolk, coastal communities, and every Filipino who contributes to protecting our maritime interests. Their service, sacrifice, and resilience remind us that the Award find meaning not only in law, but also in the daily efforts of those who safeguard and benefit from our seas. Guided by UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea remains steadfast in strengthening whole-of-government coordination, unified response and public awareness on matters concerning the West Philippine Sea. We reaffirm our commitment to advancing a unified national effort that upholds the rule of law and safeguards the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and lawful maritime entitlements.

𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐎 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐌𝐀? 𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐍𝐀, 𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐎! If you believe in 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞… If you believe in 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲… If you believe in 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 is 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬… Then, see you this Sunday sa 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤! With every footstep, we take a stance. Let yours tell a story of unity, peace, and love for the Philippines. 📍 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐚 📅 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 12, 2026 🕔 5:00 𝐀𝐌 Wear 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄 and be part of this meaningful movement as we commemorate the 10𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 2016 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝. 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐧𝐚! 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐨? Pwede ka na magregister dito: shorturl.at/Vm3M7 #NationalPeaceWalk #PeaceWalk2026 #WalkForPeace #WalkForUnity #ArbitralAward10 #WestPhilippineSea #UNCLOS #RulesBasedOrder #SovereignPhilippines #SovereigntyIsLivelihood #OurSeasOurFuture #WPSTransparency⁩⁩⁩

🇵🇭 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐆. 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐑 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘. 🇵🇭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 6, let us begin commemorating the 10𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 2016 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 by participating in the 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐠-𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲. We invite all government agencies, local government units, schools, organizations, institutions, and every Filipino to take part in this meaningful observance. As we count down to July 12, let us honor a milestone that reaffirmed the Philippines' lawful maritime rights under international law and renew our shared commitment to peace, unity, and a rules-based international order. Together, let us proudly raise our flag and remember that our strength as a nation lies in standing united for what is right. #WestPhilippineSea #WPSTransparency #2016ArbitralAward #TransparencyInitiative