The Philippines on Friday expressed alarm over China’s continued refusal to recognize the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, which invalidated China’s expansive claims in the resource-rich waterway.

Speaking at the Stratbase ADR Institute’s annual forum commemorating the ninth anniversary of the Philippines’ arbitral victory, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Teresa Lazaro described China’s continued rejection of the award “worrisome” as it undermines Philippine sovereignty and regional stability.

“It is worrisome that China has continued to reject the binding arbitral award and persists with illegal, coercive, and aggressive actions under cover of a revisionist, self-serving interpretation and application of international law, particularly UNCLOS,” Lazaro said.

The 2016 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejected China’s sweeping claims over almost all of the South China Sea, including areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Despite the ruling, China has intensified its activities in the disputed waters, including the increased presence of its coast guard and maritime militia with the Philippine vessels and Filipino fishermen being subjected to constant harassment.

“Nine years hence, its legitimacy continues to be tested, challenged and subverted, putting not only the Philippines’ maritime interests in peril, but also the regional stability and prosperity we are all working so hard to achieve,” Lazaro said.

Despite this, Lazaro reaffirmed the Philippines’ firm stance on upholding international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“[T]he Award is a cornerstone of Philippine maritime policy along with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. I want to emphasize that they will remain so under my watch,” she said.

“The award not only sets reason and right in the South China Sea, but is like a lighthouse that guides how maritime matters and concerns in the region ought to be addressed,” she added.

Lazaro said the award is a “telling reminder to the world that all countries regardless of size, might or capacity must meet their duties and obligations, especially under UNCLOS, including compliance with rulings by its legitimate tribunals and bodies.”

Arbitral Award a ‘lifeline’

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. echoed Lazaro’s statements, emphasizing the rule of law as the cornerstone of the country’s maritime and security policy.

“On this ninth anniversary of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the South China Sea, we are reminded of something simple yet powerful: the rule of law matters,” Teodoro said.

“For countries like the Philippines, an archipelagic nation whose very existence is intertwined with the maritime domain, respect for international law is not just a principle — it is a lifeline,” he added.

Teodoro described the ruling not merely as a legal victory, but as a “resounding declaration” that the conduct of nations must be guided by international law — not by coercion or power plays.

“The arbitral award, which clearly affirmed our sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea, is not merely a legal pronouncement. It is a resounding declaration that the only legitimate guide for the conduct of nations is the rule of law — never the imposition of might,” he said.

Teodoro emphasized that upholding the award is not an act of aggression, but a sovereign duty rooted in justice and accountability.

“Let it be abundantly clear: defending our sovereign rights and jurisdiction is not an act of provocation. It is the sacred and fundamental duty of the republic — an expression of our responsibility to our nation, to the Filipino people, and to the countless generations of Filipinos who will inherit this sacred trust,” said Teodoro.

The Defense chief also underscored the Philippines’ dedication to peace, international law, and principled engagement with other nations.

“The Philippines, a nation committed to peace and principled engagement, views this award not just as a cornerstone of our foreign and security policy, but as an irreducible truth,” he stressed.

“We continue to uphold the award because it reflects what is right and just — not just for us but for all coastal states whose rights must be respected under international law. No amount of pressure, reinterpretation, or power plays can erase that truth,” he said.