China rejects South China Sea ruling on its 10th anniversary as 14 nations and EU reaffirm it

Associated Press—On the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that invalidated China's South China Sea territorial claims, Beijing again rejected the decision while 14 nations and the European Union jointly reaffirmed its validity. The decade-long standoff has changed little: China continues to control artificial islands and disputed reefs built in defiance of the ruling. Analysts at Nikkei Asia noted the rule of international law appears shakier today than when the ruling was issued. Ongoing confrontations between Chinese coast guard vessels and Philippine ships in disputed waters continue.

• Associated Press — Fourteen nations and the EU issued a joint statement reaffirming the 2016 tribunal ruling as legally binding
• The Print — China formally rejected the ruling on its 10th anniversary, reiterating it will not accept the arbitration result
• Nikkei Asia — Nikkei Asia argued the rule of international maritime law has weakened since 2016 as China's position has grown
• Semafor — Despite the ruling, China has expanded its physical presence in the South China Sea over the past decade