July 13, 2026

Ten years after the so-called South China Sea arbitration award was issued in 2016, the Philippines, together with certain Western countries, continues to politicize and recycle the deeply flawed decision, seeking to make an issue of the "award," which China regards as nothing but a worthless piece of paper.

Recently, 14 countries, including the US, Japan and the Philippines, have issued a so-called joint statement, stating that China's "expansive maritime claims" in the South China Sea have "no legal basis" and emphasizing that "the 2016 ruling is legally binding."

Meanwhile, since mid-June, the major Philippine media outlets have intensified their promotion of the illegal "award," and the Philippines' politicians – including its defense secretary – have lashed out at China for refusing to accept or recognize it.

Read more:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-07-13/Decade-long-farce-Who-s-fueling-tensions-in-the-South-China-Sea--1OJGpCY1E0E/p.html