China reaffirmed its stance on the South China Sea dispute this week, arguing that a 2016 arbitration ruling misinterpreted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Speaking at an international symposium in Qingdao, Chinese Foreign Ministry official Ma Xinmin emphasized the role of customary international law in resolving maritime disputes.
💡 “The legal status of continental states’ outlying archipelagos is rooted in principles that existed long before UNCLOS,” Ma stated. He called for dismissing claims of “convention supremacy,’’ stressing that customary law and UNCLOS should coexist to ensure fairness.
🌍 The symposium, attended by legal experts, highlighted China’s push for recognition of its sovereignty over the region. Ma urged respect for the rights of continental states with archipelagos, framing it as key to upholding “international justice.”
⚖️ While the 2016 ruling rejected China’s claims, Beijing has consistently dismissed the case as “illegal.” This latest move underscores China’s strategy to shape global maritime governance through historical precedent.
