MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday hosted a diplomatic reception, as the country commemorates the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China's sweeping nine- dash line claim in the West Philippine Sea.
Attended by members of the diplomatic corps, the high-level reception underscored the administration’s continued commitment to upholding the award, which reaffirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under international law and rejected China’s sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea, Malacañang said.
"The event sends a clear message to the international community that the Philippines continues to provide the highest level of political and institutional support to the 2016 Arbitral Award and remains firm in its established maritime positions," it added.
Issued on 12 July 2016, the Award found that China violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) by interfering with fishing and petroleum exploration, constructing artificial islands, and failing to prevent Chinese nationals from fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ.
