PRESS RELEASE

Philippine Embassy, Canberra

1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au    *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*

01 September 2026, CANBERRA - The Philippine Embassy in Australia kicked off the celebration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo) with a public lecture commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, co-organized with the Australian National University (ANU) Philippines Institute.

The lecture featured Dr. Lowell Bautista, Associate Professor at the Western Sydney University School of Law, who delivered the keynote address, “The South China Sea Arbitral Award: Evolving Post-Arbitration Strategies, Implications and Challenges.”

More than 100 guests attended the event, including Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Donato Guzman of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office, and Assistant Secretary Glenn Elson of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Southeast Asia Strategy and Maritime Security Branch. Members of the diplomatic corps, Philippine and Australian maritime agencies, academics, researchers, students, and representatives from think tanks also participated in the discussion.

In his opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Australia H.E. Antonio Morales underscored the importance of continuing to highlight the significance of the 2016 Arbitral Award. He noted that the Philippines’ steadfast commitment to international law is a defining feature of its foreign policy and its engagement with the international community. He further emphasized that respect for international law is a cornerstone of the Strategic Partnership of the Philippines and Australia, and is particularly significant as both countries also commemorate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

Assistant Secretary Guzman emphasized that the Award did more than clarify the rights and obligations of the parties under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It also reaffirmed the principle that no State, regardless of size or strength, stands above the law. He noted that the Award has become an important reference point in the interpretation and application of UNCLOS and has strengthened confidence in international tribunals and other mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Assistant Secretary Elson affirmed Australia’s position on the final and binding nature of the Award and its enduring importance. He also highlighted developments in maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Australia, including maritime partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, joint exercises, and other cooperative activities that contribute to regional peace, security, and stability.

Dr. Bautista discussed that one of the Award’s key strengths was its precision in clarifying the scope of what UNCLOS could determine, including maritime entitlements, the incompatibility of historic rights claims beyond those entitlements, and the legal duties applicable to interference with lawful activities, navigational risks, environmental harm, and the aggravation of disputes.

He noted that the Award’s legal findings have since been translated into domestic law and stronger state capacity through the Philippine government’s enactment of the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act. More broadly, the Award has provided the Philippines with a legal baseline for assessing conduct, a common language grounded in international law, and greater legitimacy in advancing its maritime rights.

Dr. Bautista also stressed that the significance of the Award extends beyond the legal and diplomatic spheres, as its findings on maritime entitlements, lawful activities, and the protection of the marine environment have direct implications for coastal communities and livelihoods that depend on the sea. He underscored that a rules-based maritime order must not only uphold legal rights and obligations, but also safeguard the marine ecosystems and resources on which these communities depend.

Established by Presidential Proclamation No. 316 in 2017, MANAMo combines “Mana” (meaning heritage or inheritance in Filipino) with the Philippine identity as a maritime and archipelagic nation. The month-long event aims to raise public consciousness on maritime and archipelagic issues, the country's rich marine heritage, and promote the sustainable use and protection of ocean resources.-END

📖 Learn more about the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award:
https://sites.google.com/dfa.gov.ph/notoneinch/home

#2016ArbitralAward
#PHAU80YEARS 🇵🇭🇦🇺