On Thursday, 11 July – the eve of the eighth anniversary of the award in the arbitration instituted by the Republic of the Philippines against the People’s Republic of China concerning the South China Sea – the European Union reiterated that this award represented a milestone in the peaceful resolution of disputes in the region.
Issued by the tribunal constituted under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the award notably concludes that the Second Thomas Shoal is located within the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf of the Philippines.
In a press release issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU calls on all parties involved to respect the award. The EEAS points out, “Upholding the freedoms, rights and duties established in UNCLOS, in particular the freedoms of navigation and overflight, is of paramount importance for reducing tensions in the region”.
In addition, the EU reaffirms that it supports the efforts being made by ASEAN and China to successfully conclude negotiations on an “effective and substantive” code of conduct in the South China Sea. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)