Regarding the United States, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and other countries issued the so-called 10-year joint statement “Commemorating the South China Sea Arbitration Ruling” on July 12, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China solemnly states the following. 1. China has sovereignty over the South China Sea islands, including the Dongsha Islands, the Xisha Islands, the Zhongsha Islands, and the Spratly Islands; the South China Sea islands have internal waters, territorial waters, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones and continental shelf; and China has historic rights in the South China Sea. China's sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and related rights and interests in the South China Sea were established over a long period of history. As early as the Western Han period in the 2nd century BC, the Chinese people sailed in the South China Sea and discovered the South China Sea islands in long-term practice. China was the first to exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction over the South China Sea islands and related maritime areas in a continuous, peaceful, and effective manner. It has long been a common international consensus that the South China Sea islands belong to China. 2. The South China Sea is one of the safest sea lanes in the world, and there have never been any problems with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. China has steadfastly upheld its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and has steadfastly maintained peace and stability in the South China Sea. In response to the infringement and provocation of the countries concerned in the South China Sea, China has taken firm measures to defend its rights and interests, reasonable, legal, and professional restraint. The United States and other extraterritorial countries continue to strengthen their military deployment in the South China Sea, rampaging and fanning the flames. This kind of militarization and coercive behavior is the main challenge facing the current situation in the South China Sea.

Regarding the United States, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and other countries issued the so-called 10-year joint statement “Commemorating the South China Sea Arbitration Ruling” on July 12, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China solemnly states the following. 1. China has sovereignty over the South China Sea islands, including the Dongsha Islands, the Xisha Islands, the Zhongsha Islands, and the Spratly Islands; the South China Sea islands have internal waters, territorial waters, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones and continental shelf; and China has historic rights in the South China Sea. China's sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and related rights and interests in the South China Sea were established over a long period of history. As early as the Western Han period in the 2nd century BC, the Chinese people sailed in the South China Sea and discovered the South China Sea islands in long-term practice. China was the first to exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction over the South China Sea islands and related maritime areas in a continuous, peaceful, and effective manner. It has long been a common international consensus that the South China Sea islands belong to China. 2. The South China Sea is one of the safest sea lanes in the world, and there have never been any problems with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. China has steadfastly upheld its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and has steadfastly maintained peace and stability in the South China Sea. In response to the infringement and provocation of the countries concerned in the South China Sea, China has taken firm measures to defend its rights and interests, reasonable, legal, and professional restraint. The United States and other extraterritorial countries continue to strengthen their military deployment in the South China Sea, rampaging and fanning the flames. This kind of militarization and coercive behavior is the main challenge facing the current situation in the South China Sea.