Philippines Marks 10 Years of South China Sea Ruling

Senator Loren Legarda of the Philippines reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to defending its maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea on the tenth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award. The award, issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea and affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its Exclusive Economic Zone.

Legarda emphasized the award’s importance for Filipino fisherfolk, linking access to safe fishing grounds to family livelihoods, food security, and the nation’s economic well-being. She highlighted that diminished catches directly impact Filipino families and markets.

Legarda co-authored legislation, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, that translates the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea into domestic law. She asserts the Philippines’ claims are supported by historical records including the 1734 Murillo Velarde Map and treaties from 1898 and 1900.