MAKATI CITY  — With just 11 days remaining before his retirement, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Friday said the 2016 South China Sea (SCS)  arbitral ruling remains meaningful only if the Philippines continues to assert its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Speaking at a Stratbase Institute forum marking the 10th anniversary of the landmark arbitral award, Brawner said the ruling provides the country's legal foundation but stressed that law alone is not enough without sustained action.

"The arbitral ruling gave us the legal foundation. But this foundation remains meaningful only when our sovereign rights are peacefully exercised," Brawner said.

He said credible deterrence extends beyond military capability and advanced weapons, emphasizing that national resolve, strong institutions, and trusted partnerships are equally important in protecting the country's maritime interests.

"It is built through operational forces, trusted partnerships, resilient institutions and, above all, the national resolve to stand firm in defense of what is rightfully ours," he said.

Brawner stressed that the AFP's goal is to preserve peace rather than provoke conflict.

"Our objective has never been to provoke conflict. Our objective is to prevent conflict and ensure that the Philippines has the resolve and capability to exercise its sovereign rights in accordance with international law," he said.

The military chief said the security environment in the WPS has evolved, describing China's actions as "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive" tactics, or ICAD, rather than merely "gray zone" activities.

He said such actions now extend beyond the maritime domain to include cyber threats, misinformation, and disinformation campaigns aimed at distorting facts, influencing public perception, and weakening public confidence, which now demands a more integrated approach.

Lessons from a decade

Reflecting on the past decade since the arbitral ruling, Brawner outlined four key lessons for the Philippines.

First, he said sustained presence in the WPS is essential.

"Our presence in the West Philippine Sea cannot be occasional. It cannot be reactive. It must be lawful, professional, and sustained," he said.

Brawner added that every AFP mission in the disputed waters is a peaceful and legitimate exercise of the country's sovereign rights under international law.

Second, he underscored the importance of transparency, saying the AFP's policy of "assertive transparency" has helped expose unlawful incidents at sea and counter disinformation.

"The West Philippine Sea is no longer perceived as merely a bilateral issue. It has become a test of whether international law, freedom of navigation, and the rules-based international order will continue to guide the world," he said.

Third, Brawner highlighted the value of partnerships with like-minded countries, saying defense cooperation has improved the Philippines' interoperability, maritime domain awareness, and ability to respond to emerging threats.

Finally, he said the country's greatest strength remains its people.

"As Chief of Staff, I have had the privilege of meeting the men and women preserving the West Philippine Sea. I have seen them continue performing their duties despite harassment and continued intimidation," he said.

Brawner recalled personally experiencing Chinese harassment during a 2023 resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre, when Philippine vessels were rammed and blasted with water cannons for hours.

Despite the confrontation, he said Filipino troops remained disciplined and professional, describing their restraint and resolve as a form of credible deterrence.

The 2016 arbitral award, issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, invalidated China's sweeping "nine-dash line" claim over most of the SCS.