Sarcouncil Journal of Public Administration and Management

Abstract: July 12, 2016 marked a significant milestone in the legal history of the South China Sea region when the Arbitration Tribunal, established under Annex VII of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), issued its ruling in the case between the Philippines and China concerning the dispute in the South China Sea. The case, initiated in 2013 based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), aimed to clarify the legality of China's maritime claims and activities in the region. The Arbitration Tribunal's ruling is considered one of the most important international legal decisions concerning maritime disputes in the 21st century. The court rejected the legal basis of China's "nine-dash line," affirming that the geographical features of the Spratly Islands do not qualify for a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This ruling is significant not only for the Philippines but also has far-reaching implications for the legal order at sea, particularly the application of UNCLOS in dispute resolution. However, ten years have passed since the ruling, and the big question remains: how has it impacted the South China Sea situation and the international legal order? In reality, while the ruling is highly regarded by the international community for its legal value, its implementation and practical impact remain limited due to political, strategic, and power-competitive factors in the region. This article will analyze the context of the 2016 ruling, its main content, and assess its impact on international law, the situation in the South China Sea, and international relations in the region ten years later. Through this, the article contributes to clarifying the role of international law in resolving maritime disputes and the challenges posed in the implementation of international rulings.