Nine years ago, an Arbitral Tribunal under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention ruled against China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea. This decision, binding on both the Philippines and China, marked a significant step toward peacefully resolving disputes in the region.
Despite this ruling, China has continued to assert unlawful maritime claims and taken aggressive actions against neighboring countries. These actions infringe on the rights of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia, threatening peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
The United States remains committed to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific. "We seek to preserve peace and stability," stated Marco Rubio, Secretary of State. "Uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, maintain the free flow of trade, and oppose coercion to settle maritime disputes."
The U.S. calls on China to respect the 2016 arbitral ruling and halt its destabilizing conduct.