The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Cebu has reiterated Beijing’s longstanding rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling following a commemoration of the so-called “West Philippine Sea Victory Day” held in Cebu City.
The Chinese Consulate General criticized the event and reaffirmed China’s position that the arbitral award issued in 2016 is “illegal, null and void” and has no binding force on China.
The consulate maintained that territorial sovereignty issues are outside the scope of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and cited China’s 2006 declaration under Article 298 of the convention, which excludes disputes involving maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration procedures.
According to the statement, China does not recognize or accept the arbitral ruling and opposes any claims or actions based on the award. The consulate also reiterated Beijing’s assertion of sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and what it described as China’s historic rights in the area.
The statement further said China remains committed to resolving maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation with countries directly concerned, emphasizing what it described as the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
The Chinese Consulate General argued that, over the past decade, the arbitral ruling has failed to resolve maritime issues between China and the Philippines and has instead contributed to heightened tensions in the region. It also claimed that continued reference to the ruling encourages external intervention and undermines regional stability.
Addressing the Cebu commemoration, the consulate expressed regret over the activities organized by what it referred to as “certain individuals,” saying the event ran counter to the long-standing friendly relations between China and Cebu.
“Cebu has enjoyed long-standing friendly relations with China. The Chinese Consulate General in Cebu has always been dedicated to promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and Cebu,” Consul Zhang Zhen said.
The consulate expressed hope that Cebuanos and Filipinos “of goodwill” would reject actions that it said create division and instead support efforts to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation.
The statement reflects the official position of the Chinese government regarding the South China Sea dispute. The Philippines, meanwhile, continues to uphold the 2016 arbitral award under UNCLOS, which invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims based on the so-called nine-dash line. China has consistently rejected the ruling and has maintained that it is not legally binding.
