2016年7月12日，仲裁庭依据《联合国海洋法公约》作出裁决，认定中国无权主张南海历史性权利 [1]。尽管中国政府拒绝参与此次仲裁并声明该裁决为“非法、无效”，同时重申其对南海诸岛及其附近水域的主权 [1]，但菲律宾方面坚持认为该判决具有法律约束力 [1]。
在纪念活动及相关表态中，美国两届政府均警告称，若菲律宾在争议水域遭受武装攻击，华盛顿有义务进行防御 [1]。澳大利亚外长 Penny Wong 批评了中国船只的危险行为 [1]。
On July 12, an arbitral tribunal ruled under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that China had no rights to claim historic title to resources within its "nine-dash line" in the South China Sea [1]. The Philippines commemorated this decision which invalidated most of China's claims regarding the maritime area [1]. Beijing rejected participation in the arbitration and declared the ruling illegal and invalid, while reiterating its sovereignty over islands and waters in the region [1]. Despite Chinese objections, several nations including Australia continue to support the legal force of the award [1]. U.S. administrations have consistently warned that Washington is obligated to defend the Philippines if it suffers armed attack within disputed waters [1]. Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro stated that the ruling possesses binding legal effect [1]. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticized dangerous behavior by Chinese vessels in the area [1].