China Rejects 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Ruling on 10th Anniversary

China has launched a coordinated diplomatic and media campaign to reject the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling as invalid and non-binding.

• China launched a coordinated diplomatic and media campaign on the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitration ruling, reiterating that the ruling is "invalid" and has no binding force.
• Fourteen countries, led by the United States, issued a joint statement challenging China's maritime claims in the South China Sea.
• Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that China does not accept or recognize the ruling and opposes any claims or actions based on it.
• Researcher Yang Xiao stated that the joint statement was not initiated by the concerned Asian states and did not receive collective support from ASEAN.