On July 12, 2026, a coalition of 14 nations—including the United States, Philippines, Australia, Canada, Britain, Japan, New Zealand, and seven European states such as Germany, Italy, and the Baltic nations—issued a statement marking the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea ruling at The Hague in 2016.

The statement reiterated calls for compliance with the ruling, framing it as a cornerstone of the rules-based international order. However, critics argue that the statement reflects a fundamental disconnect from international law, historical realities, and the current political environment in Southeast Asia.

The South China Sea dispute centers on territorial sovereignty over maritime features and maritime delimitation. According to international law principles, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), sovereignty over land territory is not regulated by Unclos. Moreover, international law respects the principle of state consent. China, as early as 2006, invoked Article 298 of Unclos to exclude disputes concerning territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration.

In 2013, the Philippines unilaterally initiated arbitration, bypassing agreed-upon bilateral mechanisms. Beijing maintains its sovereignty claims in the region are based on centuries of historical practice dating back to the Western Han dynasty and asserts "historic rights." However, the 2016 arbitral tribunal found no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within its "nine-dash line."

This ongoing dispute underscores the complexities of applying international law to territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Sources

South China Morning Post World, "14-nation South China Sea statement is an expansionist overreach," July 15, 2026. Read more