July 8, 2026

China reiterated that the Philippines' territorial claims in the South China Sea lack both historical and legal basis and pose a serious threat to regional stability and the international order, according to a report released Wednesday by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The report comes amid rising tensions fueled by recent Philippine-Japanese activities, and against the backdrop of the 10th anniversary of China's rejection of an arbitration ruling that Manila continues to cite in support of its maritime claims.

While China has previously laid out evidence of its sovereignty and refuted Philippine claims in various official documents, the new paper is described as the first comprehensive assessment of the legal validity of Manila's territorial assertions in the South China Sea.

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https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-07-08/China-rebuts-Philippine-South-China-Sea-claims-with-legal-critique-1OAunspPaaQ/p.html