The South China Sea Arbitration (The Republic of Philippines v. The People's Republic of China)

On 22 January 2013, the Republic of the Philippines instituted arbitral proceedings against the People’s Republic of China under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the “Convention”).  The arbitration concerned the role of historic rights and the source of maritime entitlements in the South China Sea, the status of certain maritime features in the South China Sea, and the lawfulness of certain actions by China in the South China Sea that the Philippines alleged to be in violation of the Convention.  China adopted a position of non-acceptance and non-participation in the proceedings.  The Permanent Court of Arbitration served as Registry in this arbitration.


Case information

Name(s) of Claimant(s) The Republic of Philippines (State)
Name(s) of Respondent(s) The People’s Republic of China (State)
Names of Parties -
Case number 2013-19
Administering institution Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
Case status Concluded
Type of case Inter-state arbitration
Subject matter or economic sector Law of the sea
Procedural rules - Other -
Treaty or contract under which proceedings were commenced

Multilateral treaty
UNCLOS

Language of Proceeding English
Seat of Arbitration (by Country) Netherlands
Arbitrator(s), Conciliator(s), Other Neutral(s)

Judge Thomas A. Mensah (President)
Judge Jean-Pierre Cot
Judge Stanislaw Pawlak
Professor Alfred H. Soons
Judge Rüdiger Wolfrum

Representatives of the Claimant(s)

Agent
Solicitor General Jose. C. Calida (replacing Solicitor General Florin T. Hilbay as of 30 June 2016, who replaced Solicitor General Francis H. Jardeleza, as of 2 March 2015)
Office of the Solicitor General, Makati, Republic of the Philippines

 

Counsel

Paul S. Reichler
Lawrence H. Martin
Andrew B. Loewenstein
Foley Hoag LLP


Professor Bernard H. Oxman
University of Miami School of Law

Professor Philippe Sands QC
Matrix Chambers

Professor Alan Boyle
Essex Court Chambers

Representatives of the Respondent(s)

China did not appoint an agent. In a Note Verbale to the PCA on 1 August 2013, and throughout the arbitration proceedings, China reiterated “its position that it does not accept the arbitration initiated by the Philippines.”

Representatives of the Parties
Number of Arbitrators in case 5
Date of commencement of proceeding 22 January 2013
Date of issue of final award 12 July 2016
Length of Proceedings 3-4 years
Additional notes

In accordance with Article 15(2) of the Rules of Procedure, at the request of the Arbitral Tribunal, the Registry is making arrangements for the preparation of unofficial Chinese translations of the awards rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal. 


Documents

Written submission
The Philippines' Memorial - Volume I
The Philippines' Supplemental Written Submissions - Volume I
The Philippines' Memorial - Volume II
The Philippines’ Memorial – Volume III (Annexes 1-60)
The Philippines’ Memorial – Volume IV (Annexes 61-102)
The Philippines’ Memorial – Volume V (Annexes 103-157)
The Philippines’ Memorial – Volume VI (Annexes 158-221)
The Philippines’ Memorial – Volume VII (Annexes 222-255)
The Philippines’ Memorial – Volume VIII (Annexes 256-275)
The Philippines’ Memorial – Volume IX (Annexes 276-306)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume II (Atlas of Relevant Features)
The Philippines’ Memorial – Volume X (Annexes 307-343)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume III (Annexes 344-385)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume IV (Annexes 386-442)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume VI (Historic Maps)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume V (Annexes 443-465)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume VII (Historic Oil and Gas Maps)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume VIII (Annexes 466-499)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume IX (Annexes 500-521)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume X (Annexes 522-542)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Written Submission — Volume XI (Annexes 543-573)
The Philippines’ Annexes cited during Hearing on Jurisdiction (Annexes 574-583)
The Philippines’ Written Responses to the Tribunal’s 13 July 2015 Questions – Volume II (Annexes 584-606)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Documents – Volume I (Annexes 607-667)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Documents – Volume II (Annexes 608-709)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Documents – Volume III (Annexes 710-756)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Documents – Volume IV (Annexes 757-806)
The Philippines’ Supplemental Documents – Volume V (Annexes 807-819)
The Philippines’ Annexes cited during Merits Hearing (Annexes 820-859)
The Philippines’ Written Responses to the Tribunal’s November 2015 Question (Annexes 860-863)
The Philippines’ Written Responses (11 March 2016) (Annexes 864-892)
The Philippines’ Written Responses on Itu Aba (25 April 2016) (Annexes 893-913)
The Philippines’ Written Responses on French Archive Materials (3 June 2016) (Annexes 914-934)
The Philippines’ Written Responses to the Tribunal’s 13 July 2015 Questions – Volume I
The Philippines’ Written Responses to the Tribunal’s November 2015 Question
The Philippines’ Written Responses (11 March 2016)
The Philippines’ Written Responses on Itu Aba (25 April 2016)
The Philippines’ Written Responses on UKHO Materials (28 April 2016)
The Philippines’ Written Responses on French Archive Materials (3 June 2016)
The Philippines' Response to Tribunal Enquiry on Reef Damage (26 April 2016) (with Prof. McManus Revised Report; and Third Carpenter Report)
Procedural Documents
Rules of Procedure
Procedural Order No. 1
Procedural Order No. 2
Procedural Order No. 3
Procedural Order No. 4
Award or other decision
Award
Award on Jurisdiction and Admissibility
Award (unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Award on Jurisdiction and Admissibility (unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Press Release
Eleventh Press Release 12072016 (English)
First Press Release
First Press Release (Unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
First Press Release
Second Press Release
Second Press Release (Unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Second Press Release
Third Press Release
Third Press Release (Unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Third Press Release
Fourth Press Release
Fourth Press Release (Unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Fourth Press Release
Fifth Press Release
Fifth Press Release (Unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Fifth Press Release
Sixth Press Release
Sixth Press Release (Unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Sixth Press Release
Seventh Press Release 29102015
Seventh Press Release 29102015
Seventh Press Release 29102015 (Unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Eighth Press Release 24112015
Eighth Press Release 24112015
Eighth Press Release 24112015 (Unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Ninth Press Release 30112015
Ninth Press Release 30112015
Ninth Press Release 30112015 (Unofficial Mandarin Chinese translation)
Tenth Press Release 29062016
Tenth Press Release 29062016
Tenth Press Release 29062016 (Unofficial Chinese translation)
Eleventh Press Release 12072016 (French)
Eleventh Press Release 12072016 (Unofficial Chinese)
Other
Independent Expert Report - Coral Reef Environment
Independent Expert Report - Navigational Safety
Image
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Statement by Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Albert F. Del Rosario
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Hearing in Session
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Statement by Agent for the Philippines, Solicitor General Mr. Florin T. Hilbay
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Counsel Team for the Philippines, including Prof. Bernard H. Oxman, Prof. Alan E. Boyle and Mr.Lawrence H. Martin
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Statement by Mr. Paul S. Reichler, Counsel for the Philippines
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Hearing in Session
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Members of the Philippines' Delegation
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Members of the Philippines' Delegation
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Statement by Prof. Philippe Sands QC, Counsel for the Philippines
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Hearing in Session
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Arbitral Tribunal with PCA Staff Members
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Members of Observer Delegations
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Delegation of the Republic of the Philippines
Photograph from Jurisdictional Hearing- July 2015- Arbitral Tribunal
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Tribunal
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Tribunal in Session
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Opening Statement by Agent of the Philippines
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Counsel Team for the Philippines
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Members of Observer Delegations
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Hearing in Session
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Counsel for the Philippines
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Members of Observer Delegations
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Hearing in Session
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - The Tribunal with Expert and PCA Staff Members
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Hearing in Session
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Expert Witnesses
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - Delegation of the Republic of the Philippines
Photograph from Merits Hearing - November 2015 - H.E. Mr. Del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
Transcript/Minutes
Final Transcript Day 1 - Jurisdiction Hearing
Final Transcript Day 2 - Jurisdiction Hearing
Final Transcript Day 3 - Jurisdiction Hearing
Final Transcript Day 4 - Merits Hearing
Final Transcript Day 3 - Merits Hearing
Final Transcript Day 2 - Merits Hearing
Final Transcript Day 1 - Merits Hearing