The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Week 2025 saw a tense and highly charged exchange between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea (SCS) dispute.
Against the backdrop of the broader theme ‘Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights’, the debate underscored deep divisions on maritime sovereignty and international law.
While the UNGA aimed to promote co-operation and sustainable development, the interactions between these two countries revealed ongoing geopolitical friction and the challenges of enforcing international rulings in contested waters.
Philippines blasts China over SCS violations
During the debate, the Philippines delivered a strong statement condemning China’s actions in the South China Sea.
The Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro emphasised that there is no alternative to a rules-based international order founded on law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Without naming China, she criticised the harassment of Filipino vessels and fisherfolk and labelled the conduct as illegal and coercive.
The Philippines re-affirmed its commitment to the 2016 Arbitral Award, which legally supports its sovereignty and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and urged peaceful diplomatic solutions to resolve the disputes.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Volunteers detained, aid blocked: Malaysia condemns Gaza Flotilla raid, demands accountability
China’s rejection, Philippines’ firm response in first right to reply
China exercised its right to reply by rejecting the 2016 arbitration ruling, stating it neither recognises nor accepts the decision and asserting that its territorial sovereignty and maritime interests remain unaffected.
The Chinese delegation also added that the United Nations is not the place to discuss the issue in the South China Sea.
In turn, the Philippines rebutted, calling the ruling “binding to all parties and final,” and condemned China’s environmental damage caused by island reclamation and harvesting endangered marine species.
The Philippine representative called on China to respect and implement the ruling without delay.
Second rights to reply underline unresolved dispute, calls for compliance
China responded again, framing the South China Sea dispute as a territorial and maritime delineation issue outside the scope of UNCLOS, while affirming its commitment to protecting the marine environment.
The Philippines reiterated that the 2016 arbitral award is final and binding according to international law, urging China once more to respect and comply with the ruling.
These exchanges demonstrate the ongoing tensions and challenges in enforcing international legal agreements.
READ NEXT: Egypt secures Category 2 seat in ICAO Council
Sarah Sharp 
Anna Ferraz