Chinese Consulate in Cebu reiterates rejection of 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling

 
CEBU CITY – The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Cebu strongly reiterated Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling, in a media briefing held at the Mandarin Hotel in Cebu City on July 13 with Consul Zhang Zhen urging Cebuanos to focus instead on cooperation and regional stability.

The briefing and accompanying official statement from the consulate came in response to a recent "West Philippine Sea Victory Day" commemoration staged by certain individuals in Cebu City.  Consul Zhang criticized the event, describing the continued promotion of the arbitral award as a "farcical spectacle" that runs counter to regional aspirations for peace, development, and historical cooperation.

Zhang said the Chinese Consulate General reaffirmed Beijing's firm stance that the 2016 arbitral ruling is "illegal, null, and void," carrying no binding force. Consul Zhang argued that "loud rhetoric cannot substitute for legal truth," asserting that territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation disputes fall outside the scope of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The consulate cited China's 2006 declaration under Article 298 of UNCLOS, which officially excludes such disputes from compulsory arbitration procedures.

According to the consulate’s statement, the arbitration is viewed by Beijing as a violation of fundamental principles of international law, including state consent and pacta sunt servanda (agreements must be kept).

China maintains its historic rights and sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands (Nanhai Zhudao), asserting that its jurisdiction has been established through continuous and peaceful practice dating back to the Western Han Dynasty (200 B.C.), Consul Zhang bared.

The consulate argued that over the past decade, the ruling has failed to resolve maritime issues, serving instead as a tool to escalate regional tensions and invite destabilizing external intervention.

Appeals to Cebu-China Relations

Consul Zhang expressed deep regret over the local commemoration activities, stating they "move in the opposite direction" of the long-standing friendly relations between Cebu and China. She emphasized that the Chinese Consulate General remains deeply committed to fostering mutual exchanges, trade, and cooperation with Cebu.

Calling on Cebuanos and Filipinos of goodwill to see through the activities, Consul Zhang remarked that such events "serve no one except those who profit from sowing division." She urged the public to reject narratives that undermine bilateral ties and stability.

While the Chinese Consulate General pushes for bilateral negotiations and historical consultation to manage maritime disputes, the Philippine government continues to firmly uphold the 2016 arbitral award.

 Maintained under UNCLOS, the landmark ruling invalidated China's expansive maritime claims within the "nine-dash line"—a decision Beijing has consistently refused to recognize.

The Chinese Consulate General concluded its statement by reiterating its commitment to regional peace, declaring that attempts to play up the "illegal award" go against the regional trend toward development and prosperity and "are doomed to fail."

“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 said. (Photos: MBCNewman)