Paris: China continues to ignore a 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that dismissed China's sweeping claim over the South China Sea, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.

According to Philippines News Agency, Teodoro, in an international defense forum in Paris, France, said China also continues to engage in "a campaign of misinformation and disinformation" in an attempt to nullify the arbitral ruling. He emphasized that the activities of China in this sphere are well publicized to the world through the Transparency Initiative in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea, which has been entered into by several interested countries, particularly the Philippines.

In his speech before this year's Paris Defense and Strategy Forum, Teodoro stressed that despite the ruling being legally binding, China not only continues to ignore it but is actively waging a campaign to nullify it. The arbitral award is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary this coming July 12, and Teodoro called it a "historic award" affirming UNCLOS as the peremptory document defining maritime entitlements.

Teodoro further noted that China continues to conduct campaigns to undermine the Philippines' efforts to pursue its rightful claim under international law. Despite these challenges, he reassured that the Philippines remains committed to standing for its rights in the West Philippine Sea, emphasizing the Marcos Administration's commitment to staying the course for the benefit of future generations.

The Philippines won a landmark ruling in 2016 at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which declared China's sweeping claims over the South China Sea based on its so-called nine-dash line as having no legal basis under UNCLOS. Despite the ruling, China continues to assert its presence in Philippine waters, prompting repeated calls from the international community and Filipino officials for full compliance with international maritime law.