Press Releases
Seven years since the issuance of the Arbitral Tribunal’s award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China regarding the South China Sea
(Statement by Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa)
July 12, 2023
- Today, seven years have passed since the issuance of the Arbitral Tribunal’s award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China regarding the South China Sea. As the Tribunal’s award is final and legally binding on the parties to the dispute under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the parties to this case, the Philippines and China, are required to comply with the award. The claim by China that it will not accept the award is against the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, in particular UNCLOS, and undermines the rule of law as a fundamental value of the international community. Japan strongly hopes that the parties’ compliance with the award will lead to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea.
- Upholding and reinforcing the free and open international order based on the rule of law will be the benefit of all countries, large and small. Based on this recognition, Japan highly appreciates the Government of the Philippines for having consistently complied with the award, and shown its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea including through the statement of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo issued in July 2022 regarding the award.
- Japan renews its objection to maritime claims in the South China Sea that are inconsistent with UNCLOS and remains seriously concerned about the current situation. Recalling that the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement issued in February 2023, G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué in May 2023 and G7 Foreign Ministers’ Communiqué in April 2023 underscored the importance of the free and open international order based on the rule of law, Japan reiterates its strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.
- Japan will continue working in coordination with ASEAN and other countries concerned to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law.