July 9，2026

Ten years have passed since the illegal South China Sea arbitration award was rendered in 2016. Yet rather than fading into irrelevance, the Philippines has never ceased to fan the flames - repeatedly stoking the arbitration narrative in an effort to legitimize its unlawful territorial ambitions. 

A Global Times investigation, however, reveals a far different reality: from procedure to substance, the arbitration case unilaterally initiated by Manila is riddled with fundamental flaws. The arbitral tribunal, in handling preliminary and jurisdictional issues, displayed flagrant double standards and self-contradictions, showing clear bias toward the Philippines and forsaking the impartiality expected of any judicial body.

This piece lays bare the myriad legal and procedural loopholes embedded in the tribunal's ruling - exposing how, under the veneer of law, the Philippines has engaged in political maneuvering that renders the award legally untenable. It also sheds light on the role of American legal teams and certain US politicians, who have acted as key enablers behind the scenes, pushing Manila toward this judicial farce.

Read more:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365595.shtml