By Liz Lagniton | 2026-04-15

Philippine lawyers, officials and academics called for more-energetic use of international law and transparency to defend the country's rights in the West Philippine Sea during a national symposium marking the 10th anniversary of a landmark 2016 arbitral ruling.

That year, a court in The Hague threw out China's claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea. That assertion, which China has not given up, brings it into regular maritime confrontations with its neighbors, such as the Philippines.

The West Philippine Sea is Manila's name for the part of the South China Sea inside its Exclusive Economic Zone.

The National Symposium on the Law of the Sea and the West Philippine Sea, held March 30–31 in Manila, brought together local and international specialists to address maritime disputes, clarify misconceptions and counter disinformation.

Legal literacy and public awareness have become increasingly critical as incidents in contested waters raise concerns over sovereignty and regional stability, said the speakers.

Transparency push

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela underscored the government's transparency campaign. It is central to modern maritime defense, he said.

"Modern defense is built on the truth," he said, adding that publicizing developments at sea allows Filipinos and the international community to validate the country's claims.

Transparency is "not propaganda" but "the responsible exposure of facts," Tarriela said. Silence in the face of coercion risks further escalation, he said.

Legal scholars at the forum said the Philippines' position is anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which defines maritime entitlements and provides a framework for dispute resolution.

Backing of the law

Manila's claims have the backing of historical treaties and legal precedent, retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio said.

"We have the strongest title," he said, noting that the Philippines must better articulate its case internationally.

Carpio urged Manila to pursue peaceful legal avenues, including arbitration, to clarify overlapping claims with China, Vietnam and Malaysia in contested areas.

Under UNCLOS, however, such proceedings require the consent of all parties involved, a point highlighted by German legal analyst Christian Schultheiss.

China's consent will be necessary for any case before the International Court of Justice, he said.

The 2016 arbitral award remains binding under international law, said Schultheiss, rejecting claims that it carries less weight than rulings by permanent courts.

The award, issued under UNCLOS, "does not mean it has less weight," he said.

Its legal force stems from treaty obligations agreed upon by participating states.

Discussions during the symposium focused on how the Philippines and its regional partners have gradually aligned their positions around the ruling.

Schultheiss said diplomatic efforts since 2020 have led to a "convergence" among Southeast Asian states, with several countries adopting key elements of the arbitral decision in their legal positions.

While countries broadly agree on rejecting arrangements inconsistent with the 2016 court decision, a shared vision for future maritime governance in the South China Sea remains unclear, he added.

Disinformation risk

Speakers warned of growing disinformation campaigns surrounding the West Philippine Sea dispute.

In his keynote address, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said false narratives and propaganda are increasingly shaping public perception and policy debates.

He described transparency as a strategic deterrent against coercive actions, particularly in what he called a broader "battle for truth."

"Maritime rights must be derived from law, not from force," Año said, reiterating the government's reliance on international law rather than military power.

The Philippines has expanded diplomatic engagement and security cooperation with allies while continuing to push for adherence to the arbitral ruling, he said.

At the same time, public misunderstanding of maritime law remains a challenge, said analysts.

Legal awareness

Even legal professionals may lack a full grasp of the issue, underscoring the need for broader education efforts, Dr. Jeffrey Ordaniel, president of the WPS Foundation, said.

Chinese coercion, if left unchecked, could gradually normalize Beijing's claims in the region, he said.

"One day we wake up, the 'nine-dash line' [will be] a reality already," Ordaniel said. China draws the nine-dash line or even a 10-dash line on maps to claim almost all of the South China Sea.

The two-day symposium sought to equip policymakers, educators and opinion leaders with accurate information to counter misinformation and to reinforce national consensus.

Sessions covered maritime zones, dispute settlement mechanisms and the legal framework underpinning the arbitral ruling, alongside discussions on Philippine maritime laws.

Despite ongoing tensions, speakers emphasized that legal mechanisms and diplomacy remain the Philippines' primary tools, with UNCLOS providing the legal basis for its claims.

As Año put it, UNCLOS turns maritime disputes "into a question of legality," allowing smaller states to assert their rights on equal footing with larger powers.

The symposium concluded with calls for continued engagement, stressing that defending maritime rights requires not only legal strategy but also an informed public and sustained international support.