Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns

17/07/2026

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL MARITIME COUNCIL ON THE DEROGATORY VIDEO PUBLISHED BY CHINA DAILY

Manila, Philippines | July 17, 2026

The National Maritime Council condemns the publication of a derogatory video by China Daily, a state-owned and state-run media organization, depicting Filipinos through demeaning and racist imagery. Such content falls far short of the standards of responsible and ethical journalism.

The Philippines has consistently chosen the path of diplomacy, dialogue, and adherence to international law. Attempts to substitute reasoned discourse with ridicule neither strengthen legal claims nor clarify issues. Instead, they erode trust, inflame public sentiment, and undermine constructive engagement necessary for achieving peace and stability.

The Philippines' position on its maritime rights and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea remains clear, principled, and unwavering. It is anchored on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the final and binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. These legal realities cannot be altered by propaganda, disinformation, or offensive portrayals.

The National Maritime Council fully supports the statements issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense. We likewise call on all states and state-affiliated institutions to exercise responsibility in public communication, reject rhetoric that fosters discrimination, prejudice, and hostility, and instead promote dialogue founded on mutual respect, dignity, and the rule of law.

The National Maritime Council reaffirms that the Philippines will continue to pursue peace with principle, exercise restraint with resolve, and meet provocation not with hostility, but with confidence grounded in law, truth, and the enduring values of the Filipino people. (END)

17/07/2026

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL MARITIME COUNCIL ON INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2016 SOUTH CHINA SEA ARBITRAL AWARD

Manila, Philippines | July 17, 2026

The Philippines welcomes the strong expressions of support from the international community, marking the Tenth Anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, including the Joint Statement of fourteen partner countries and the public statements of the European Union and India reaffirming the importance of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the rules-based international order.

These statements reaffirm that respect for international law remains the strongest foundation for peace, stability, security, and prosperity in the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific. Ten years after it was rendered, the Arbitral Award remains final and legally binding on the parties under UNCLOS and continues to guide the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes.

The broad international support underscores that the rule of law at sea is not merely a Philippine interest but a global one. Safe, secure, and open seas are essential to international trade, food and energy security, and sustainable development. For the Philippines, the Award also safeguards the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk, strengthens coastal communities, and protects the marine resources that future generations will depend on.

We likewise note China's continued rejection of the Award. While States may hold differing views, the Award's legal status remains unchanged. The Philippines will continue to uphold international law, pursue dialogue and diplomacy, and protect its sovereignty, sovereign rights, maritime entitlements, and jurisdiction through peaceful means, consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s foreign policy of being a friend to all and an enemy to none.

The issue before the international community is not about choosing sides, but about upholding internationally agreed rules over coercion. As we commemorate this milestone, the Philippines calls on all States to uphold UNCLOS, exercise restraint, resolve differences peacefully, and work together to preserve the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, cooperation, and shared prosperity.

Ten years after the Award, its enduring message remains clear: lasting peace is secured when nations choose dialogue over coercion and law over force. (END)

12/07/2026

12/07/2026