The 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 11, 2025, where Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a notable speech addressing the South China Sea arbitration case. Wang emphasized China’s stance that the arbitration initiated by the Philippines lacked legal grounding due to the absence of prior consultations and violated necessary principles of state consent.
Wang pointed out that this arbitration contravened the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which encourages peaceful resolution of disputes through direct consultations. He stated that the Philippine claims primarily pertained to China’s territorial sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and maritime delimitation issues, both of which fall outside the jurisdiction of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He highlighted China’s prior declaration made in 2006, which excluded certain maritime delimitation matters from compulsory arbitration.
Wang noted that, among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, only the United States has not ratified UNCLOS, while other countries, including China, have made similar exclusions. He criticized the arbitral tribunal for overstepping its authority and suggested its ruling contained significant legal and factual inaccuracies, particularly regarding the classification of Taiping Island.
The foreign minister asserted that external forces are manipulating the arbitration case to disrupt peace in the South China Sea, suggesting that a growing number of nations understand this agenda. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to upholding international law and fostering stability in the region, mentioning ongoing consultations with ASEAN countries to establish a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
The aim, Wang stated, is to cultivate a narrative of peace, cooperation, and friendship, indicating a collective desire for harmonious interaction in the region, and asserting that attempts to incite conflict will not succeed.
This summit exemplifies the ongoing diplomatic efforts in Asia to maintain stability and improve relations among member nations. With open dialogues and the push for collaborations like the Code of Conduct, there remains a hopeful outlook for enduring peace and cooperation in the South China Sea region.