President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hosted members of the diplomatic community at a dinner reception Friday night as the Philippines marked the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award.
The high-level gathering was held at Conrad Manila in Pasay City, the Presidential Communications Office said.
According to the PCO, the event highlighted the Marcos administration’s continuing commitment to uphold the ruling, “which reaffirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under international law and rejected China’s sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea.”
“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,” the PCO said.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration issued the award on July 12, 2016, invalidating China’s sweeping claim over nearly the entire South China Sea based on its nine-dash line.