MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should use its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2026 to push for a legally binding South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) anchored on the 2016 arbitral ruling, instead of allowing the landmark decision to become a subject of negotiation, Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres Manhit said as the country marks the 10th anniversary of the landmark ruling on July 12.
Manhit said any future COC must reinforce, rather than dilute, the Philippines' legal victory over China's sweeping maritime claims.
"If today leaves us with one piece of unfinished business, it is this: The Award must be reflected in the ongoing negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea," Manhit said.
"Our negotiators must have a clear mandate: any Code of Conduct must uphold the Arbitral Award as the legal baseline, not treat it as a point for negotiation," he added.
His remarks came as the Philippines prepared to assume the Asean chairmanship next year while regional negotiations continued on a substantive and legally binding COC for the disputed waters.
Manhit cautioned against rushing into an agreement that would undermine international law or disregard the legally binding arbitral award, saying such a move would compromise the sovereign rights and maritime entitlements of claimant states and weaken regional peace and stability.
He echoed the position of the late Stratbase chairman and former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario, who initiated the Philippines' arbitration case before The Hague in 2013. Del Rosario had said in 2017 that the arbitral ruling should form "an integral part" of both the COC framework and the eventual agreement.
According to Manhit, the ruling is "not a ceremonial anniversary to be admired from a distance" but "a living mandate" that the country must uphold as a matter of sovereign duty and responsibility to future generations.
He also backed the Armed Forces of the Philippines' call for more local government units to declare July 12 as West Philippine Sea Victory Day.
A forum on July 10 and organized by Stratbase, gathered senior government officials, diplomats and security experts to discuss how the Philippines could better operationalize its legal victory amid China's continuing actions in the West Philippine Sea.
