{"id":1605,"date":"2026-07-12T05:09:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T05:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1605"},"modified":"2026-07-12T05:09:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T05:09:13","slug":"us-uk-and-12-other-nations-reaffirm-2016-ruling-invalidating-chinas-claims-in-south-china-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1605","title":{"rendered":"US, UK and 12 other nations reaffirm 2016 ruling invalidating China\u2019s claims in South China Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

MANILA, Philippines (AP) \u2014 The United States, United Kingdom and a dozen other Western and Asian countries reasserted on Sunday that China\u2019s expansive claims<\/span> in the South China Sea are illegal based on a 2016 arbitration ruling.<\/p>\n

Read more Shooting near Toronto street festival kills 2 people and wounds 4, police say<\/a><\/p>\n

A joint statement issued by the nations said they rejected \u201cdestabilizing\u201d actions in the disputed waters that threaten regional peace.<\/p>\n

The announcement commemorated a July 12, 2016, arbitration ruling<\/span> by a tribunal established in The Hague under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, saying the landmark decision is \u201ca significant milestone and is final, legally binding and definitive.\u201d<\/p>\n

China refused to join the arbitration initiated by the Philippines in 2013 after a tense standoff in the contested waters a year earlier that ended with Beijing effectively seizing a disputed shoal<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Beijing rejected the 2016 ruling and continues to defend its claims to virtually the entire sea passage, a key global trade route that has long been feared as one of Asia\u2019 most active flashpoints. The areas has been the scene of repeated territorial standoffs involving China and the Philippines, Vietnam<\/span>, Malaysia<\/span>, Brunei and Taiwan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe reaffirm the Arbitral Tribunal\u2019s decision that there is no legal basis for China\u2019s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including those based on `historic rights,\u2019\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

The arbitration tribunal largely decided in favor of the Philippines, ruling that under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, \u201cthere was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources\u201d in the South China Sea outside of its regular territorial areas recognized under the convention.<\/p>\n

The convention, largely regarded as the treaty governing the world\u2019s oceans and seas, took effect in 1994 and has been ratified by more than 170 countries and parties, including China and the Philippines.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In addition to the U.S. and Britain, the other countries listed in Sunday\u2019s statement included the Philippines, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

Read more US attacks Iran over ship being hit in Strait of Hormuz; Tehran lashes out again at Gulf Arab states<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n
\nSign up for Morning Wire:<\/strong>
\n Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n
\n