Renowned jurist and former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Antonio T. Carpio, has expressed his strong disagreement with China’s assertion that the 2016 Arbitral Ruling on the South China Sea is illegal.
In a recent statement, Justice Carpio emphasized the significance of the ruling, which declared that China’s claims over most of the South China Sea have no basis in law. He argued that the Arbitral Tribunal’s decision was based on international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which China is a signatory.
As one of the country’s top experts on maritime law, Justice Carpio has been at the forefront of efforts to assert the Philippines’ rights over its territorial waters. He has written extensively on the issue and has given numerous talks on the importance of upholding international law in resolving disputes over marine resources.
The 2016 Arbitral Ruling was a major victory for the Philippines, as it declared that China’s claims over the South China Sea are not supported by any historical or legal basis. The ruling also reaffirmed the principles of international law and the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of coastal states.