Poland backs Philippines as it calls on China to comply with 2016 arbitral award

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 16, 2026

Photo Courtesy: AFP

Poland has affirmed that China is obligated to comply with the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, adding another European voice to calls for respect for the landmark ruling that upheld key Philippine maritime rights.

The statement reinforces the Philippines’ position that the arbitral award remains legally binding under international law. The ruling, issued in 2016 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, rejected the legal basis of China’s claim to historic rights over resources within the so-called nine-dash line.

The award also clarified the maritime entitlements of several features in the South China Sea and found that China had breached Philippine sovereign rights in areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

China, however, has continued to reject the ruling, maintaining that it is “null and void” and that it does not accept or recognize the tribunal’s decision.

Poland’s position adds to the growing list of countries that have expressed support for the arbitral award and the broader principle that disputes in the South China Sea should be addressed in accordance with international law.

For Manila, the 2016 decision remains a central reference in its diplomatic and maritime position in the West Philippine Sea, particularly as tensions and competing claims continue in the region.

Poland’s latest statement therefore puts renewed attention on the legal framework governing the South China Sea, with the Philippines continuing to invoke the arbitral award as the basis for its maritime rights.