India on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for a rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea, emphasising that disputes in the strategically important region must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also described the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration as a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving competing maritime claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Speaking at the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India's longstanding position on the issue. He stressed the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and overflight, ensuring lawful use of the seas and maintaining unimpeded global commerce in line with UNCLOS. India also underlined that maritime disputes should be settled through peaceful means without escalating tensions in the region.

The remarks came as the United States, the United Kingdom and 12 other countries marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling by reaffirming that China's extensive claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis under international law. The European Union also issued a separate statement describing the tribunal's decision as a landmark judgment for the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes.

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The tribunal, constituted under UNCLOS, ruled on July 12, 2016, in a case initiated by the Philippines following a prolonged maritime dispute with China. It concluded that there was no legal basis for China's claim of "historic rights" over most of the South China Sea. The joint statement issued by the participating countries reaffirmed that the tribunal's award is final and legally binding on the parties to the case.

China, however, once again rejected the ruling, with its Foreign Ministry stating that the award is "null and void" and has "no binding force." Beijing maintained that it neither accepts nor recognises the tribunal's decision and asserted that its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea remain unaffected by the judgment.

The South China Sea remains one of the world's most strategically significant and contested maritime regions, with overlapping territorial claims involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. The waterway is a vital global shipping route through which trillions of dollars worth of international trade passes every year, making stability and adherence to international maritime law a key concern for countries across the Indo-Pacific region.

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