PH Navy conducts 'siren salute' for 9th anniv of WPS arbitral ruling

Philippine Navy assets across the country on Saturday held a “siren salute,” or the simultaneous sounding of their horns, in commemoration of the ninth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea favoring the Philippines. 

The siren salute is a naval tradition which symbolizes unity, tribute, and continuity, and reminds coastal communities of the commitment to defend the nation’s seas and uphold maritime heritage.

“The symbolic act also echoes the Navy’s resolve to defend what is rightfully Filipino, as enshrined in the 2016 Arbitral Award and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” it said.

To recall, the Philippines in 2016 won a landmark arbitration case which invalidated China's expansive claims and upheld the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

“Guided by the Arbitral Award, the Philippine Navy continues to strengthen its capabilities, sharpen its maritime posture, and deepen cooperation with like-minded nations that respect international law,” the Philippine Navy said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News