Marcos: Arbitral award is about people, not just law

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday emphasized the significance of the Philippines' legal victory over China in the West Philippine Sea, saying the landmark arbitral ruling is ultimately about protecting the lives and livelihoods of Filipinos.

Speaking at the diplomatic reception for the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award in Pasay City, Marcos said that the ruling "is not just an abstract triumph of jurisprudence."

"It has a profound and deeply human dimension," he said.

"At its heart, this award is about people. It is about our fisherfolk whose ancestors have cast their nets in these waters for many generations, and who deserve to fish in peace, in safety, and with the dignity to feed their own families," he added.

"It is about our coastal communities whose survival is tied to the health and ecological integrity of our oceans."

Defending the rule of law, Marcos said, is not merely about protecting "lines on a map."

"We are defending the lives, the livelihoods, and the future of our peoples. The law exists ultimately to protect the vulnerable, to shield human dignity from the whims of raw power," he said.

On July 12, 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China's sweeping claims over nearly the entire South China Sea had no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in a case brought by the Philippines in 2013.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the decision upheld the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), including areas of the South China Sea that Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

Despite the ruling, confrontations between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards have persisted, with Beijing continuing to reject the arbitral award.

Marcos said adherence to international law remains "non-negotiable" in addressing issues ranging from maritime boundary disputes to marine environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.

"For the Philippines, our path forward remains clear and absolute. We remain steadfastly committed to the United Nations Charter and to UNCLOS. For our pursuit of peace is not passive. It requires the courage to defend what is right, to uphold our international commitments, and to engage constructively with all who seek mutual respect and shared prosperity," he said.

"We hold a simple but unwavering conviction. The South China Sea must never be an arena of conflict. It must remain a sea of peace, cooperation, and connectivity. A body of water that sustains livelihoods, fosters trade, protects marine biodiversity, and unites rather than divides our nations."

Marcos also urged governments, diplomats, and citizens to continue building on the legacy of the arbitral ruling.

"Let the next decade be defined not by what international law prevents, but by what we can collectively achieve when we honor its promise to protect the vulnerable, to safeguard our oceans, and to secure a stable, peaceful world," he said. — VBL, GMA News