By Brian Campued
“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.”
Ten years since the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s nine-dash line in the South China Sea, the Philippines remains steadfast in affirming its sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
As the country commemorates the 10th anniversary of the landmark ruling on July 12, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has time and again reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the country’s territory while adhering to international law and rules-based international order.
“Thirteen years ago, when the Philippines initiated these arbitration proceedings, we stood before the world to assert a timeless, universal principle that disputes between nations must be resolved not through coercion, not through the threat or use of force, but through peaceful means and the rule of law,” President Marcos Jr. said during a diplomatic reception in Pasay City on Friday.
“In making that historic decision in 2013, which culminated in the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award, our nation chose dialogue over confrontation, law over intimidation, and peace over conflict.”
The President underscored the importance of safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of coastal communities in the WPS, stressing that the ruling is not just an “abstract triumph of jurisprudence” but one with “profound and deeply human dimension.”
“At its heart, this award is about people. It is about our fisherfolk whose ancestors have cast their nets in these waters for many generations, and who deserve to fish in peace, in safety, and with the dignity to feed their own families. It is about our coastal communities whose survival is tied to the health and ecological integrity of our oceans,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of pursuing peaceful and constructive engagements to resolve disputes and address maritime challenges, noting that adherence to international laws remains “non-negotiable, irreplaceable, and non-optional.”
The Chief Executive likewise called on governments, diplomats, legal experts, the international community, as well as the citizens to continue upholding the rule of law as the foundation for peace and stability.
“We hold a simple but unwavering conviction. The South China Sea must never be an arena of conflict. It must remain a sea of peace, cooperation, and connectivity. A body of water that sustains livelihoods, fosters trade, protects marine biodiversity, and unites rather than divides our nations,” he said.
In a recent OCTA Research survey, conducted April 20-24, 2026, majority or 66% of adult Filipinos support the Marcos Jr. administration’s response to the WPS dispute.
Expanding naval troop presence (69%), pursuing diplomacy and other peaceful means (66%), and modernizing and strengthening the Armed Forces of the Philippines (64%) are among the government measures Filipinos prefer to assert the country’s sovereignty over the WPS.
-jpv
