PRESS RELEASE
Philippine Embassy, Canberra
1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*
13 July 2026, CANBERRA - The Philippine Embassy in Canberra joined the commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the landmark 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award with a flag-raising ceremony held on 13 July 2026.
The ceremony was followed by the reading of the message of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) by Ambassador Antonio A. Morales.
In its message, the NTF-WPS underscored the enduring significance of the Arbitral Award as a milestone in the peaceful settlement of disputes under international law and reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to upholding the rules-based international order.
Issued on 12 July 2016 under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the South China Sea Arbitral Award is a landmark decision that clarified the maritime entitlements of the parties in the South China Sea and affirmed the legal framework governing maritime rights and obligations. The Award is final and legally binding on the parties to the arbitration.
Established in 2016, the NTF-WPS is an inter-agency body chaired by National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Oban Jr. It coordinates the Philippines' efforts to safeguard maritime security and advance the country's diplomatic, legal, environmental, and economic interests in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine Embassy in Canberra reaffirms the Philippines' steadfast commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for international law, and the promotion of a rules-based international order that contributes to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
đź“– Learn more about the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award:
https://sites.google.com/dfa.gov.ph/notoneinch/home
📄 Read the Joint Statement on the Tenth Anniversary of the Philippines–China South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award:
👉 https://tinyurl.com/2ucfjmb4
#2016ArbitralAward
