On 13 July 2026, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas issued a statement on behalf of the European Union marking the tenth anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award between the Philippines and China concerning the South China Sea. The statement reaffirms the EU's unwavering commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and calls for the award to be respected and fully implemented by the parties involved. It expresses deep concern over rising tensions and dangerous incidents in the region, and firmly opposes unilateral actions that undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order.
The statement, published by the EEAS, underscores that the 2016 Arbitral Award, adopted by an independent tribunal under UNCLOS, is final and legally binding upon the parties to the proceedings. The EU considers it a landmark decision in the peaceful settlement of disputes. The EU reiterates its support for ongoing efforts by ASEAN and China to conclude an effective, substantive, and legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, in line with UNCLOS. The statement also highlights the critical importance of upholding freedoms of navigation and overflight, including transit passage, as essential to regional stability and global security.
The EU's position carries implications for several stakeholders. For the Philippines and other claimant states, the EU's reaffirmation provides diplomatic backing for the award's implementation. For China, the statement signals continued EU pressure to abide by international law and engage constructively in Code of Conduct negotiations. ASEAN member states benefit from EU support for a rules-based regional order, while the EU itself reinforces its role as a normative actor in the Indo-Pacific. The statement does not introduce new measures but consolidates the EU's longstanding stance, with no immediate operational or financial impact.