The Philippines stood firm in defending its rights over the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said China’s claim that the 2016 Arbitral Award is invalid has no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
China insists the ruling is invalid because it did not participate in the proceedings, despite being a party to the case.
Tarriela emphasized that UNCLOS clearly states that non-participation does not prevent hearings or legal proceedings from moving forward.
Instead, it places a “special responsibility” on the tribunal to ensure that the claims are consistent with facts and the law.
He added that China was continuously informed of the developments throughout the process, and was repeatedly invited to attend and submit its evidence.
In the end, the tribunal ruled that China’s absence did not hinder the proceedings from moving forward.
