Philippines marks anniversary of tribunal ruling against China

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Philippine officials marked the anniversary of a July 12, 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the disputed South China Sea. The arbitration was initiated by the Philippines in 2013 and decided by a tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China refused to join the case and dismissed the ruling as a sham. The decision continues to be used by Washington and other allies as a rallying call against Beijing's maritime assertiveness, sustaining diplomatic friction and keeping the dispute visible in international forums.

A 2016 tribunal invalidated China's broad South China Sea claims.