Philippines Reaffirms PCA Ruling as 'Non-Negotiable' on 6th Anniversary

On the sixth anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling (July 12, 2016), the newly inaugurated Marcos administration reaffirmed that the ruling is 'beyond the reach of passing governments to bargain away or to give up.' This marked a definitive break from Duterte's policy of shelving the award and sent a clear signal to Beijing. Foreign Secretary Manalo stated: 'The Award is part of international law and will continue to guide our position on the South China Sea.'