International scholars say the ruling, initiated by the Philippines, undermines dialogue and stability; call for renewed cooperation based on historical context and shared regional interests
Beijing: Nine years after the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, international scholars gathered in Beijing to denounce the decision's impact, arguing that it has heightened mistrust, militarisation, and hindered cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
The seminar, titled "The History and Reality of the South China Sea," was jointly hosted by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance. The event brought together legal experts and historians from China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Russia to examine both historical and legal narratives surrounding the maritime disputes.
“The South China Sea was once harmonious. What disrupted that peace were colonial and imperialist forces in the 20th century,” said Li Guoqiang, Deputy Director of the Chinese Academy of History, who argued that China lawfully recovered the islands after World War II, as per the Cairo Declaration (1943) and Potsdam Proclamation (1945).
Tribunal Ruling Labelled “Unilateral” and “Jurisdictionally Flawed”
The 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, initiated solely by the Philippines and issued under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), was rejected by China, which has repeatedly declared it “null and void.”
“The ruling undermines the legitimacy and integrity of UNCLOS by imposing a Eurocentric legal framework that ignores Asia’s historical maritime traditions,” said Zheng Zhihua, associate research fellow at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
“The tribunal lacked jurisdiction over sovereignty issues and disregarded bilateral agreements,” added Cheng Yeuk-wah, former Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong SAR.
Over the past nine years, scholars said, the ruling has fueled geopolitical posturing in the South China Sea, exacerbating conflicts between China and the Philippines and drawing in external powers like the United States.
“The ruling has been exploited by actors inside and outside the region to provoke instability and disparage China’s role,” noted Wu Shicun, Chairman of the Huayang Center.
“China’s actions on the reefs have remained pragmatic and restrained, focused on sustaining the status quo rather than escalating tensions,” said Hu Bo, Director of the Center for Maritime Strategy Studies at Peking University.
Many speakers emphasized the significance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) signed between China and ASEAN in 2002, calling it a viable framework for peaceful resolution.
“Short-term turbulence and conflict cannot derail the long-term trend toward cooperation and development in the region,” stressed Xu Xiaodong, Vice-Chairman of the Huayang Centre, who also criticised the lack of Chinese narratives in global and AI-generated discourse.
From a Southeast Asian viewpoint, Chan Git Yin, a senior fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, urged stakeholders to look beyond disputes and focus on shared goals.
“Peace and security in the South China Sea are a collective responsibility. We need inclusive, long-term regional strategies,” Chan emphasised.
Joint Development Over Confrontation
Song Yann-huei, a research fellow at Taiwan’s Academia Sinica, warned that while China has largely adhered to post-WWII maritime arrangements, some regional actors have taken countermeasures that complicate resolution.
“The path forward lies in joint development, mutual respect, and reaffirming multilateral agreements like the DOC,” Song said.
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