Response to the statement from Deputy Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy Guo Wei

Article by F. Palafox

Published on June 21, 2026 06:30PM

MANILA — While Beijing frames its latest activities at Panatag Shoal as routine scientific research within “inherent territory,” Philippine officials and legal experts see a different picture; a calculated move that disregards a landmark international ruling and undermines the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei of the Chinese Embassy in Manila recently declared that China possesses “indisputable sovereignty” over Panatag Shoal (internationally known as Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc) and that its scientific activities are “beyond reproach” under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). But this assertion directly contradicts the 2016 arbitral ruling that the Philippines initiated, a decision that declared China’s historic claims to the shoal baseless and affirmed that it generates no maritime entitlements for any nation. ¹

The “Floating Structure” Under Scrutiny

Guo described the disputed “floating structure” as a temporary scientific facility established by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology for ecosystem sampling ¹. Yet Manila has treated the installation as a serious violation. On June 9, 2026, the Philippines issued formal demarches and a protest demanding China’s removal of the structure. ²

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian defended the activity, stating that “any activity – including scientific research – carried out by Beijing on the shoal is lawful” because China holds “indisputable sovereignty” ². Philippine officials, however, argue that sovereignty over the shoal is not a matter of China’s unilateral declaration but of international law, and the 2016 tribunal already settled that question in favor of the Philippines.

A 2016 Ruling China Still Rejects

The core of the concern lies in China’s continued refusal to accept the 2016 arbitration award. Guo Wei reiterated Beijing’s stance that the proceedings were “unlawful and null and void” because China did not consent to them. He also claimed UNCLOS does not address territorial sovereignty, questioning whether the award explicitly stated Panatag Shoal belonged to the Philippines. ¹

But Philippine legal experts emphasize that the tribunal did not need to assign ownership to determine maritime rights. The court ruled that Panatag Shoal is a “rock” that generates no exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights by interfering with fishing and resource exploration in the area. Further, the court also emphasized that China's claim of 9 dash line is invalid. ¹

“Cease Hyping” or Cease Violations?

China’s demand that the Philippines stop “hyping up and politicizing” normal research clashes with Manila’s view that the issue is not research itself but the context in which it occurs. The Philippines has repeatedly asserted previous actions of China using civilian activities, scientific or otherwise, to consolidate control over disputed areas while Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels enforce de facto exclusion. ²

The concern also intensified after China deposited baseline coordinates for Panatag’s territorial sea in late 2024, a move Beijing called “normal” and “in line with international law”. Philippine lawmakers condemned the act as an attempt to solidify illegal claims through domestic legislation.

The Philippine Position

The narrative is not about opposing science but about protecting sovereign rights that an international court already affirmed. The 2016 ruling remains the most significant legal shield the Philippines has in the West Philippine Sea, and China’s repeated dismissals of it, including Guo Wei’s latest statement, only deepen Manila’s concern that Beijing prioritizes its own narrative over international law. ¹

As the situation continues, the Philippines has called for dialogue anchored in the 2016 award and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Whether China will engage constructively, or continue treating Panatag Shoal as untouchable territory, remains the critical question for peace in the region.

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Notes:

¹ Daily Tribune – “China rejects WPS ruling anew” (March 2, 2026)

² The Straits Times – “Philippines urges China to remove structure in disputed shoal” (June 9, 2026)