World · 12 July 2026
US, UK and 12 nations say China's sea claims are illegal
On Sunday, the United States, United Kingdom, and twelve other Western and Asian nations reiterated their position that China's extensive claims in the South China Sea lack legal validity. The collective declaration denounced "destabilizing" activities in the contested maritime areas, which jeopardise regional stability. The statement commemorated the arbitration decision made on 12 July 2016 by a tribunal in The Hague, which concluded that China's claims had no legal foundation.
Reported by The Hindu · How we write briefs