International Experts and China Denounce South China Sea Arbitration Award

International law experts from over 10 countries, including Britain, Germany, and Japan, convened at a roundtable dialogue in Hong Kong on July 13-15, 2026, to denounce the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award. Participants characterized the ruling as a poisonous legacy and a political setup that hinders negotiations for the regional Code of Conduct. During the forum, the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance released a joint report titled 'A New Critique of the South China Sea Arbitration Award,' which details various legal and factual flaws in the original ruling.

Qi Dahai of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China delivered a keynote speech asserting that the arbitral tribunal acted ultra vires and rendered an illegal, null and void award. He argued that the ruling deviates from international law and undermines the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Other panelists, including British lawyer Stephen Fietta, stated that the award has had limited impact on the development of international law and lacks broad global acceptance.

Similar criticisms emerged in early July 2026 at a forum hosted by the Indonesia Strategic and Defense Studies in Jakarta. Professor Anthony Carty described the tribunal as biased and unprofessional, while other scholars argued the arbitration was a political farce initiated by the Philippines and supported by the United States to challenge Chinese sovereignty. Experts warned that using the non-binding ruling to justify maritime provocations could lead to severe regional consequences if a kinetic conflict occurs.