On 11 July 2026, the European Union issued a statement on behalf of the High Representative marking the tenth anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award between the Philippines and China concerning the South China Sea. The EU reaffirmed that the award, issued by an independent tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is final and legally binding upon the parties and must be respected and fully implemented. The statement underscores the EU's commitment to UNCLOS as the universal legal framework for ocean activities, emphasizing the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, including transit passage, for regional stability and global security.
The EU expressed deep concern over rising tensions and dangerous incidents in the South China Sea, opposing any unilateral actions that undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order. It reiterated support for ongoing efforts by ASEAN and China to conclude an effective, substantive, and legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, consistent with UNCLOS. The statement calls for all disputes to be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means in accordance with international law, with the UN Charter and UNCLOS at its core.
This anniversary declaration comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the Indo-Pacific, where the EU has increasingly positioned itself as a stakeholder in upholding maritime security and the rules-based order. The statement does not introduce new measures but reaffirms the EU's longstanding position, first articulated after the 2016 award, and aligns with the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy adopted in 2021. The EU's stance supports the Philippines and other claimant states while urging restraint from all parties. The impact is primarily diplomatic: it reinforces the EU's role as a normative actor in the region, supports the Philippines' position, and signals continued opposition to coercive unilateral actions, though it carries no enforcement mechanism. Stakeholders most affected include the Philippines and China, as the primary parties to the dispute; ASEAN member states, which are engaged in Code of Conduct negotiations; and the broader international community reliant on safe sea lanes for trade and security.