8 years on, China refuses to accept SCS ruling

MANILA, Philippines —  On the eve of the eighth anniversary of the Philippines’ victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, China released a report to reaffirm its objection to the final ruling that invalidated its expansive “nine-dash-line” claim in the South China Sea.

State-run China Global Television Network said the report was compiled by the Huayang Center for Marine Cooperation and Ocean Governance, the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and the Chinese Society of International Law.

The report, released a day before the eighth anniversary of the arbitral ruling, stated that the Chinese government would continue to adhere to the policy of “non-participation” and “non-acceptance,” and that the Chinese government would never recognize the ruling.

The Aquino administration challenged China’s excessive claims in the South China Sea before the PCA. It was the first time that a nation challenged China over its maritime claims.

The late foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario led the Philippines’ successful arbitration case against China.

Del Rosario, who was given the privilege of delivering the opening statement for the Philippines before the PCA, said China caused the Philippines to conclude that continued diplomatic efforts, whether bilateral or multilateral, would be futile, and that the only way to resolve the two countries’ maritime disputes was to commence the arbitration.

Over the years, China’s positions and behavior became progressively more aggressive and disconcerting with its steps that showed Beijing’s efforts to consolidate de facto control throughout the South China Sea.

China’s transmittal of its nine-dash line claim to the United Nations in 2009 prevented the Philippines from carrying out long-standing oil and gas development projects in areas well inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

In 2012, China forcibly expelled Philippine fishermen from the maritime areas around Panatag or Scarborough Shoal where the Filipino fishermen have for generations been fishing unmolested.

But shortly after the successful outcome of the arbitral case, then president Rodrigo Duterte decided to shelve the case for fear of displeasing Beijing.

Duterte undermined the Philippines’ victory by calling the arbitral award a piece of paper that he would throw in the wastebasket, his critics said.