top of page
Search

China Tried to Rewrite History — The World Said No

Article by Marie D.

Published on July 20, 2026 11:00PM



China’s latest attempt to discredit the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award runs against the grain of what Manila and a broad group of countries continue to treat as a final, binding ruling under international law. On the tenth anniversary of the award, the Philippines joined the United States, Japan and other partners in reaffirming that China’s expansive claims in the West Philippine Sea have no legal basis. ¹ ² ³ ⁶


Manila’s legal position


The core Philippine argument is unchanged, the arbitral tribunal in The Hague, constituted under UNCLOS, ruled in 2016 that Beijing’s sweeping “historic rights” claim had no basis under the convention. Reuters and AP both reported this month that the Philippines and its partners described the award as “final, legally binding and definitive” between China and the Philippines. ² ³


That makes Beijing’s new report, released July 16, look less like a neutral legal assessment and more like a political counter-narrative aimed at undermining a decision it has rejected since day one. In Philippine coverage of the original ruling, the tribunal also found that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in areas that include waters off Palawan and around Scarborough Shoal. ⁴ ⁵


Why the critique falls short


China’s scholars argue the tribunal lacked jurisdiction and misapplied international law, but that line has been raised repeatedly since 2016 and has not displaced the ruling’s standing among states that recognize it. The U.S. State Department’s July 10 joint statement with Manila and other governments again called the award final, legally binding, and definitive. ¹


The practical reality on the water has not changed either: Filipino fishermen continue to face pressure in and around traditional fishing grounds, including areas near Panatag Shoal, even as the legal award remains a reference point for Manila’s diplomacy. Reuters reported that Philippine fishermen still describe the ruling as meaningful a decade later, underscoring how the case remains tied to livelihoods, not just legal theory. ⁷


Regional stakes


For the Philippines, the issue is not an abstract dispute over legal interpretation; it is about protecting rights in the West Philippine Sea, from the waters off Zambales to the approaches near Palawan. That is why Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs continue to frame the award as part of the rules-based order, rather than a historical footnote. ¹ ⁸


Beijing’s counter-report is likely meant to reinforce its longstanding position that the award is “null and void,” but its publication also highlights a deeper divide: China argues sovereignty and jurisdiction were never properly adjudicated, while Manila and its partners insist the award settled the maritime entitlements issue with finality. Reuters and AP both show that the international diplomatic consensus outside Beijing still leans strongly toward the Philippine view. ² ³

____________________

Notes:


¹ US Department of State. Joint Statement on the Tenth Anniversary of the Philippines-China South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award. https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/07/joint-statement-on-the-tenth-anniversary-of-the-philippines-china-south-china-sea-arbitral-tribunal-award


² Reuters. South China Sea joint statement says China's maritime claims have no basis. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/south-china-sea-joint-statement-says-chinas-maritime-claims-have-no-basis-2026-07-12/


³ AP News. 14 nations and the EU reaffirm 2016 ruling invalidating China’s claims in South China Sea. https://apnews.com/article/philippines-south-china-sea-disputes-arbitration-6ca48fecb19b61901b05a3f86f70be54



⁵ BBC. South China Sea: Tribunal backs case against China brought by Philippines. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-36771749


⁶ Washington Post. 14 nations and the EU reaffirm 2016 ruling invalidating China's claims in South China Sea. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/12/philippines-south-china-sea-disputes-arbitration/dc21c502-7dab-11f1-b194-f872dd4ec5aa_story.html


⁷ Reuters. A decade after historic ruling, Philippine fishermen say driven away from disputed shoal by China. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/decade-after-historic-ruling-philippine-fishermen-say-driven-away-disputed-shoal-2026-07-10/


⁸ New Straits Times. Philippine minister says 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling is a permanent anchor. https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2026/07/1485059/philippine-minister-says-2016-south-china-sea-arbitration-ruling

bottom of page