THE South China Sea dispute spilled onto the floor of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York as the Philippines and China traded diplomatic blows over the legality of the 2016 arbitral ruling, with Manila defending the award as legally binding and Beijing dismissing it as ‘illegal, null and void.’
The exchange stemmed from the address of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who used her speech before the General Debate to affirm Manila’s commitment to international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
She noted that 2026 marks a decade since the issuance of the South China Sea arbitral award and described it as a ‘final and legally binding award’ that demonstrates how international law can peacefully resolve disputes between states.
‘The Philippines stands firm in its conviction that disputes must be resolved through diplomacy and law, not violence and might,’ Lazaro said. She also stressed that ‘open and secure seas, free from interference and coercion, are vital to our security, our economy, and our people.’
China responded through Deputy Permanent Representative Sun Lei, who exercised Beijing’s right of reply, to reject the Philippine position and challenge the arbitral ruling.
‘The United Nations is not the appropriate forum to discuss the South China Sea issue,’ Sun said, accusing Manila of raising the matter in a multilateral setting despite China’s preference for bilateral negotiations.
Sun reiterated China’s longstanding position that the arbitration case filed by the Philippines violated fundamental principles of international law and that the tribunal exceeded its authority.
‘The award it rendered is illegal, null and void,’ he said. ‘China neither accepts nor recognizes the award, and opposes and will never accept any claim or action arising from it.’
The Chinese envoy also criticized Manila’s efforts to highlight the ruling’s upcoming 10th anniversary.
‘The Philippine attempt to play up the 10th anniversary of the so-called award is utterly meaningless,’ Sun said, arguing that the decision had failed to resolve maritime disputes and instead contributed to tensions in the South China Sea.
The Philippines answered back through Paolo Marco Mapula, UNGA Plenary Expert at the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations, who delivered Manila’s right of reply and defended the arbitral award against China’s criticism.
Mapula said China was once again attempting to ‘rewrite history’ and ignore a ruling issued under the dispute settlement mechanisms of Unclos. He maintained that the arbitral tribunal was lawfully constituted and that its award remains final and binding on both parties.
The Philippine delegate argued that the ruling clarified maritime entitlements in the South China Sea and represented a victory not only for the Philippines but for the international rules-based order.
China responded with another intervention, reiterating its position that territorial and maritime disputes should be settled through direct negotiations between the countries concerned rather than through arbitration or multilateral forums.
The exchange highlighted the enduring divide between Manila and Beijing nearly a decade after the Hague-based tribunal invalidated the legal basis of China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. While the Philippines continues to treat the award as a cornerstone of its maritime policy, China maintains that the ruling is invalid and has no binding effect.