On 16 July 2026, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro published an op-ed reaffirming that the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea remains legally binding on the parties to the proceedings and must be respected. The op-ed, marking ten years since the ruling, underscores that the award established legal clarity under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and that maritime claims must be judged against law, not power. Santoro warned that without respect for UNCLOS, the maritime order becomes vulnerable to intimidation and coercion, and called on all parties to exercise self-restraint and resolve differences peacefully in accordance with international law.
The op-ed highlights the strategic importance of the South China Sea for global trade, noting that a significant part of EU trade in goods moves through these waters. Santoro stressed that the EU opposes any dangerous or coercive actions in the region and supports the peaceful settlement of disputes. He pointed to the EU-Philippines Security and Defense Dialogue, launched in 2025 during a visit by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, with its first meeting held in Brussels in November 2025 covering maritime security, cyber threats, and foreign information manipulation. A second meeting is scheduled in Manila in October 2026. Kallas is set to visit the Philippines again on 22-24 July 2026 for the ASEAN Regional Forum, further underscoring the growing bilateral cooperation.
At the operational level, Santoro cited EU initiatives such as CRIMARIO and the IORIS platform, which have improved real-time information-sharing and inter-agency coordination for the Philippines on illegal fishing, smuggling, piracy, and search-and-rescue operations. Through the ESIWA+ programme, the EU supports practical cooperation in maritime security, cyber resilience, and crisis management. Santoro concluded that international law does not enforce itself and requires states to proactively defend it and build coalitions around it, with the 2016 ruling serving as a permanent legal reference point that pressure cannot erase.
The op-ed reinforces the EU's position as a defender of the rules-based maritime order, potentially increasing diplomatic pressure on China while strengthening EU-Philippines security ties. For EU businesses reliant on South China Sea trade routes, the reaffirmation of legal clarity may reduce some regulatory uncertainty, though ongoing tensions could still disrupt supply chains. Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies benefit from EU-funded capacity-building, improving their ability to manage incidents. Chinese interests face continued international legal scrutiny, which may constrain assertive actions but could also escalate diplomatic friction.