The South China Sea has long been a focal point of maritime disputes, but experts agree on one solution: dialogue. On the ninth anniversary of the “2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of peaceful consultation to resolve conflicts in the region.
“The South China Sea should not always be associated with friction or confrontation, but with peace, stability, and cooperation,” Wang said during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Challenge to Regional Stability
The arbitral award, which China has dismissed as “illegal, null, and void,” has been criticized for exacerbating tensions. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Philippines unilaterally initiated the arbitration without exhaustive dialogue, breaching a mutual understanding to seek peaceful solutions.
International law expert Carlos Arguello Gomez highlighted the necessity of mutual consent in dispute resolution. “It is extremely important that all parties agree on a mechanism to solve disputes. Forcing a party to accept a mechanism they’re not ready for won’t lead to a real solution,” he said on China Media Group’s (CMG) Voice of the South China Sea program.
Experts Urge Return to Negotiation
Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, described the arbitral award as a “troublemaker” that has intensified volatility in the region. “The South China Sea situation has become increasingly volatile, driven not only by external factors but also by the arbitral award,” Wu told CMG.
Lei Xiaolu, a professor at Wuhan University’s China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, argued that the tribunal overstepped its authority. “The tribunal does not have jurisdiction over sovereignty disputes, but it ignored this fact and forcibly exercised jurisdiction,” she said. “This will negatively impact international rule of law.”
The Path Forward
Many believe that open dialogue is the only viable path to lasting peace. Malaysian National Defense University professor Ruhanas Harun stressed the importance of negotiations. “All countries depend on stability and peace in the South China Sea. Negotiations and discussions offer a better prospect for peace and stability,” she said.
Rommel Banlaoi, president of the Philippine Society for International Security Studies, called for a collaborative approach. “There is a need for the Philippines to recall the achievements of the bilateral consultative mechanism in the South China Sea, where both countries decided to cooperate rather than compete,” he told CMG. “That’s the approach we should uphold.”
Herman Tiu Laurel, president of the Manila-based Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, noted that the arbitral ruling has caused economic and diplomatic challenges for the Philippines. “Regional peace and stability have been at risk due to the tensions caused by the so-called award,” he said.
Embracing Cooperation
As tensions persist, the call for dialogue grows louder. Analysts agree that open communication and mutual respect are essential for the nations surrounding the South China Sea to coexist peacefully.
“It is easier to settle problems if you look at each other as friends. To a certain degree, this is the Asian civilization,” said Malou Tiquila, founder of the Philippine think tank PUBLiCAS Asia Inc.
With all parties depending on the South China Sea’s stability for economic and security reasons, the consensus is clear: Dialogue isn’t just the best way forward—it’s the only way.
