President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said the West Philippine Sea must never become an arena of conflict, stressing that lasting peace in the region depends on adherence to international law.
Speaking at a high-level dinner reception marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, Marcos said the responsibility of building on the ruling’s legacy rests with governments, diplomats and ordinary citizens who believe that “peace is best secured through the rule of law.”
He said the West Philippine Sea should remain a “sea of peace, cooperation, and connectivity” that sustains livelihoods, facilitates trade, protects marine biodiversity and unites nations rather than divides them.
“Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the legacy of the 2016 Arbitral Award is still unfolding. The responsibility to build upon this foundation now belongs to all of us, to governments, to diplomats, everyday citizens, who believe that peace is best secured through the rule of law,” Marcos said.
“To our friends and partners from around the world, thank you for standing with the Philippines in defense of a rules-based order. Let the next decade be defined not by what international law prevents, but by what we can collectively achieve when we honor its promise to protect the vulnerable, to safeguard our oceans, and to secure a stable, peaceful world,” he added.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled on July 12, 2016, against China’s sweeping claim over nearly the entire West Philippine Sea based on its nine-dash line.
China has refused to recognize the decision and continues to assert claims that overlap with the maritime zones of several countries, including the Philippines.
Marcos said the Philippines brought its maritime dispute with China before the arbitral tribunal because of its conviction that conflicts between nations should be settled peacefully and through the rule of law, rather than through coercion or the threat or use of force.
He said the country chose dialogue over confrontation, law over intimidation and peace over conflict.
“We did so because we possessed an unwavering faith in a rules-based international order. For the rule of law is a great equalizer of all nations. It ensures that right is not defined by might, that justice is never dictated by the relative size of a nation’s territory, military, or economic power,” Marcos said.
“It is the very framework that allows sovereign states to interact as equals, ensuring that treaties freely entered into must be fully respected, faithfully interpreted, and consistently applied,” he added.
The President said the significance of the ruling extends beyond the Philippines, describing it as an “indispensable reference” in interpreting and applying the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which he called “the very constitution of our oceans.”
He said the award strengthened confidence in international tribunals and reinforced the principle of pacta sunt servanda, or that agreements must be honored.
From settling maritime boundaries to addressing marine environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, Marcos said compliance with international law remains “non-negotiable, irreplaceable and non-optional.”
“For the Philippines, our path forward remains clear and absolute. We remain steadfastly committed to the United Nations Charter and to UNCLOS for our peace, our pursuit of peace is not passive,” he said.
“It requires the courage to defend what is right, to uphold our international commitments, and to engage constructively with all who seek mutual respect and shared prosperity,” he added.
Marcos stressed that the ruling is not merely an abstract legal victory, but one that directly affects fisherfolk who deserve to work peacefully and safely, as well as coastal communities whose survival depends on healthy oceans.
“When we defend the rule of law, we are not merely defending lines on a map. We are defending the lives, the livelihoods, and the future of our peoples. The law exists ultimately to protect the vulnerable, to shield human dignity from the whims of raw power,” Marcos said.