Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Diplomatic Reception for the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award
10 JULY 2026
Thank you very much to our Foreign Affairs Secretary Tess Lazaro. [Please take your seats.]
The Senate President, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, and the legislators who are here present; of course, the Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps, thank you all very much for joining us here this evening; the members of the Cabinet; members of the judiciary and the legal profession; our local and international partners and stakeholders; my fellow workers in government; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.
Good evening.
It is a great pleasure to welcome you all tonight.
As we mark the conclusion of todayโs landmark commemorative conference, we gather not merely to celebrate a legal milestone, but to reaffirm a living truth that peace can only endure when it is anchored on justice, mutual respect, and the sovereign equality of all nations.
Thirteen years ago, when the Philippines initiated these arbitration proceedings, we stood before the world to assert a timeless, universal principle that disputes between nations must be resolved not through coercion, not through the threat or use of force, but through peaceful means and the rule of law.
In making that historic decision in 2013, which culminated in the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award, our nation chose dialogue over confrontation, law over intimidation, and peace over conflict.
We did so because we possessed an unwavering faith in a rules-based international order.
For the rule of law is a great equalizer of all nations.
It ensures that right is not defined by might, that justice is never dictated by the relative size of a nationโs territory, military or economic power.
It is the very framework that allows sovereign states to interact as equals, ensuring that treaties freely entered into must be fully respected, faithfully interpreted, and consistently applied.
But let us not forget, the 2016 Arbitral Award is not just an abstract triumph of jurisprudence. It has a profound and deeply human dimension.
At its heart, this award is about people. It is about our fisherfolk whose ancestors have cast their nets in these waters for many generations, and who deserve to fish in peace, in safety, and with the dignity to feed their own families.
It is about our coastal communities whose survival is tied to the health and ecological integrity of our oceans.
When we defend the rule of law, we are not merely defending lines on a map. We are defending the lives, the livelihoods, and the future of our peoples.
The law exists ultimately to protect the vulnerable, to shield human dignity from the whims of raw power.
Yet the significance of this award extends well beyond our own coastlines.
Over the past decade, it has become an indispensable reference in understanding the application of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) โ the very constitution of our oceans.
It has strengthened global confidence in international tribunals and reinforced the bedrock principle of pacta sunt servanda, the sacred rule that agreements must be kept.
From resolving maritime boundaries to addressing modern challenges like marine environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, adherence to international law has proven to be non-negotiable, irreplaceable, non-optional.
For the Philippines, our path forward remains clear and absolute.
We remain steadfastly committed to the United Nations Charter and to UNCLOS.
For our pursuit of peace is not passive. It requires the courage to defend what is right, to uphold our international commitments, and to engage constructively with all who seek mutual respect and shared prosperity.
We hold a simple but unwavering conviction. The South China Sea must never be an arena of conflict. It must remain a sea of peace, cooperation, and connectivity. A body of water that sustains livelihoods, fosters trade, protects marine biodiversity, and unites rather than divides our nations.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the legacy of the 2016 Arbitral Award is still unfolding.
The responsibility to build upon this foundation now belongs to all of us, to governments, to diplomats, everyday citizens who believe that peace is best secure through the rule of law.
To our friends and partners from around the world, thank you for standing with the Philippines in defense of a rules- based order.
Let the next decade be defined not by what international law prevents, but by what we can collectively achieve when we honor its promise to protect the vulnerable, to safeguard our oceans, and to secure a stable, peaceful world.
Thank you.
Maraming salamat. Mabuhay tayong lahat.
โ END โ
A Decade of the Arbitral Victory:
Honoring a Landmark Triumph and Renewing the Nation’s Commitment to the Rule of Law
Statement of the House of Representatives, 20th Congress
As the Philippines marks the 10th Anniversary of the landmark 12 July 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, a House Resolution has been filed in the House of Representatives to commemorate this historic milestone, honor the country’s legal and diplomatic victory, and reaffirm the nation’s sovereignty, unwavering commitment to international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
House Resolution No. 1013, introduced by Representative Antolin A. Oreta III, recognizes the significance of the 2016 Arbitral Award as one of the most consequential legal victories in Philippine history. The ruling affirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under international law and reinforced the rules-based international order governing the world’s oceans.
The measure has likewise advanced in the legislative process. The House Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea, chaired by Representative Antolin A. Oreta III, adopted the Resolution on 25 May and subsequently approved and filed the corresponding Committee Report for consideration by the House of Representatives. The measure is now pending plenary action upon the resumption of session.
The resolution calls upon all sectors of societyโincluding government institutions, the academic community, civil society, youth organizations, and the Filipino peopleโto commemorate the milestone through activities that promote awareness of the Arbitral Award, respect for international law, and a deeper appreciation of the country’s maritime heritage.
As the nation commemorates this historic achievement, the Philippines renews its steadfast commitment to diplomacy, adherence to international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The 2016 Arbitral Award remains a beacon of hope that justice can prevail through law, and that principled leadership can secure a better future for generations of Filipinos.
Our Seas. Our Rights. Our Future.
#20thCongress
#HouseOfRepsPH
#MakataoAtMatapatNaPaglilingkod
#BagongKongreso
Voices on the Arbitral Award
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE NSA / NSC ON THE ARBITRAL AWARD
Photo Courtesy: Center for Culture and the Arts – UMak
“๐๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ญ. “
National Security Adviser Eduardo SL Oban Jr. called on Filipinos to look beyond commemoration and toward responsibility as he delivered the 10th Anniversary Commemorative Policy Address during the National West Philippine Sea Summit on 8 July 2026 at Conrad Manila.
NSA Oban emphasized that the 2016 Arbitral Award is not only a landmark legal victory, but a continuing call to defend the Philippines’ sovereign rights, strengthen national resilience, and uphold a rules-based international order.
Marking a decade since the landmark ruling, the summit gathered government leaders, diplomats, scholars, and strategic partners to reflect on the Award’s enduring relevance to Philippine national security and regional stability. The discussions affirmed that its true legacy will be measured by the nation’s resolve to uphold it through principled action and respect for international law.
July 12, 2026 – 10th Anniverasy Commemoration of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award
June 2026 – Call to Raise Our Flag
Until the Arbitral Award Anniversary
June 2026 – Call to Raise Our Flag
Until the Arbitral Award Anniversary
March 2026 – Approaching the
10th Anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award
Voices on the Arbitral Award
OTHER STATEMENTS REAFFIRMING THE RULING
Joint Statement on the Tenth Anniversary of the Philippines-China South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award
Department of Foreign Affairs
Message for the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award
“Atin ang West Philippine Sea! Ituloy ang pananaliksik ng katotohanan!
Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!“
National Historical Commission of the Philippines
Opening Remarks of Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro
โA Decade Hence: The Enduring Promise of Peaceful Dispute Settlementโ
Statement by the EU on the 10th Anniversary of the Arbitral Award between the Philippines and China
12 July marks the tenth anniversary of the award issued by the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning the South China Sea (โthe 2016 Arbitral Awardโ).
The 2016 Arbitral Award, adopted by the independent and impartial arbitral tribunal in accordance with UNCLOS, is final and legally binding upon the parties to the proceedings. As a landmark decision in the peaceful settlement of disputes, it must be respected and fully implemented by the parties involved.
The EU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to UNCLOS, which reflects and codifies customary international law and sets out the universal and unified legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. The EU underlines the critical importance of upholding the freedoms, rights and duties set out in UNCLOS, in particular the freedom of navigation and overflight, including the right of transit passage, as essential to regional stability, global security, and the maintenance of safe, free and open sea routes.
The EU reiterates its support to ongoing efforts by ASEAN and China to conclude an effective, substantive and legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, that would be in line with UNCLOS. All tensions and disputes must be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means, in accordance with international law, with the Charter of the United Nations and UNCLOS at its core.
The EU is deeply concerned by the steady increase of tensions and dangerous incidents in the South China Sea and firmly opposes any unilateral actions that threaten to undermine regional stability and the international order based on international law and the rule of law, and remains steadfast in its commitment to safe, free and open maritime routes in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
Statement by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines on the 10th Anniversary of the Arbitral Award
Marking the 10th Anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Award, we reiterate that peace, stability and rules-based order in the SCS must be upheld together with the freedom of navigation and overflight based on the principles of international law, including UNCLOS.
Statement by Department of National Defense on the 10th Anniversary of the Arbitral Award
From the countryโs westernmost frontier, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. led todayโs flag-raising ceremony on Pag-asa Island in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award.
In his remarks, the Secretary emphasized that Pag-asa is not merely a military outpost but a thriving municipality where families live, children learn, and communities continue to grow. He called for greater whole-of-government convergence to strengthen the delivery of essential services, improve infrastructure, and support the islandโs continued development, security, and resilience.
As the nation commemorates a decade since the landmark ruling, the Department of National Defense remains steadfast in upholding international law, protecting the countryโs sovereignty and sovereign rights, and advancing the welfare of Filipinos living on the nationโs western frontier.
On China’s Diplomatic Statements
February 2026
On China’s Nature Reserve at DBM
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