China Dismisses Philippines’ South China Sea Claim, Labels Ruling ‘Waste Paper’
China has strongly rejected the Philippines’ renewed reference to the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, calling the decision “illegal, null and void,” and reaffirming its refusal to accept any claims based on the verdict.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Beijing reiterated its longstanding position after the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs marked the ninth anniversary of the landmark ruling.
“China’s position on the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea is consistent and clear,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. “The award is nothing but a piece of waste paper. It is non-binding and will not affect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea in any way.”
The ministry emphasized that China would continue to uphold its claims over the disputed waters, rejecting international pressure and legal outcomes it views as illegitimate.
Meanwhile, the Philippines maintained that it would assert its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea by upholding the ruling delivered by the UN-backed tribunal in The Hague.
“The Arbitral Award, along with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), will remain a cornerstone of Philippine maritime policy and our firm commitment to a rules-based international order,” the department said in a statement published by The Manila Times.
The 2016 ruling rejected China’s sweeping claims over much of the South China Sea and upheld the Philippines’ rights within its exclusive economic zone. China did not participate in the proceedings and has refused to acknowledge the decision ever since.
During a visit to Malaysia on Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also dismissed the tribunal’s ruling, calling it “absurd and politically motivated.” He warned that recognizing the verdict could set a dangerous precedent by distorting global maritime boundaries.
Wang specifically argued that the ruling undermines the legal maritime entitlements of features such as Taiping Island, despite their geographic and strategic significance.
