Philippines' misleading maritime claims undermine South China Sea stability

The Philippine National Maritime Council's statement on Monday on the South China Sea situation shows a blatant disregard for facts and international law, which China firmly rejects.

The statement falsely attributes the South China Sea issue to China's activities within the "maritime zones" of the Philippines, as provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and affirmed by the so-called 2016 Arbitral Award. Manila not only distorts the truth but also risks escalating tensions in the region.

There is no such term as "maritime zone" in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The convention establishes clear regimes for territorial seas and exclusive economic zones, but, for years, Manila has deliberately blurred the line, falsely distorting China's normal activities in waters claimed as EEZ by both China and the Philippines as "illegal patrols". This is a deliberate move aimed at misleading domestic and international public opinion.

Moreover, the Philippines' reliance on an illegal arbitration "award" is invalid from the start. As early as 2006, China made a declaration under Article 298 of UNCLOS, excluding maritime delimitation disputes from arbitration procedures. The arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines in 2013, without China's consent, violated the principle of "pacta sunt servanda", a rule that embodies an elementary and universally agreed principle fundamental to all legal systems. This so-called "award" is null and void, and China has never accepted or recognized it — nor will China allow any country to use it to infringe on its sovereignty.

A review of facts makes it clear the Philippines is the real troublemaker in the South China Sea. As far back as 1999, the Philippines illegally grounded a warship at China's Ren'ai Reef, seriously violating China's territorial sovereignty. Despite repeated promises to tow the ship away, over the past over two decades Manila has instead sent steel, cement and other construction material in an attempt to turn the vessel into a permanent military outpost.

Since the second half of 2023, Philippine Coast Guard ships, official vessels and even so-called "fishing boats" have repeatedly intruded into China's territorial waters around Huangyan Island. In 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) illegally anchored at China's Xianbin Reef for nearly five months, raising suspicions of a second "grounding incident". In the first half of 2025 alone, Manila organized 30 illegal landings on uninhabited reefs, including Tiexian Reef, involving 211 personnel — openly violating Article 5 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which prohibits changing the status quo of uninhabited features.

China has always exercised maximum restraint and patience. All Chinese actions, such as law enforcement in its own waters, are necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights, as well as to uphold the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. If China had not shown such restraint, the situation in the South China Sea would have been far more volatile. Contrary to Manila's claims, China has never taken the initiative to provoke any incident — instead, it has consistently advocated for dialogue and consultation.

Dialogue is the only viable path for resolving disputes. China has territorial and maritime disputes with some other neighboring countries, too, but those have been resolved through dialogue and consultation, or at least been effectively managed. The Philippines itself has managed disputes with other neighbors through dialogue without allowing them to escalate. There is no reason why China and the Philippines cannot do the same — unless some forces in Manila are deliberately avoiding dialogue to cater to external powers.

Individuals such as Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela, who constantly spread false information and incite confrontation, are harming the fundamental interests of the Philippines. Their actions push the country to the forefront of geopolitical competition and risk dragging it into conflict with China — a major neighbor with whom it shares broad common interests.

The South China Sea is a shared home for regional countries, and its peace and stability serve the interests of all. China remains committed to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, advancing consultations and resolving disputes through dialogue. As the deputy spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the Philippines said in a statement issued on Tuesday, the Philippines should abandon its misleading narratives, stop provocative actions and return to the negotiating table — so that it joins regional countries and works together with them, including China, to turn the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.