Fishermen who joined the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Philippines will "stand our ground" in a dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea, a top security official said Friday, eight years after an international ruling against China in the territorial contest.

Tensions over the strategic waterway, a key passage for sea-borne trade, have soared in the past 18 months following a series of escalating confrontations between Philippine and Chinese ships.

The most serious happened on June 17, when China Coast Guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe surrounded and boarded three Philippine Navy boats during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

While the countries agreed last week to "de-escalate tensions" over the disputed reefs and waters, Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said Friday that Manila would not back down.

"We will continue to stand our ground and push back against coercion, interference, malign influence and other tactics that seek to jeopardise our security and stability," Ano said, at an event celebrating the anniversary of the ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration.

The Philippines on Friday commemorated the 2016 ruling of an UN-backed arbitration court that invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, calling it a testament to its dedication to regional peace.

• Chinese embassy claims arbitral award in favor of PH 'illegal', 'invalid'

Manila in 2013 filed an arbitration case in Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague against China over its nine-dash-line claim that intruded into the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The court ruled in 2016 that China's "historic" claims in the strategic waterway has no basis.

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The Department of Foreign  Affairs (DFA) said the arbitral award was a "testament to our unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes."

The DFA said that despite "unlawful actions which have caused serious incidents" in the South China Sea, the Philippines has continued to "demonstrate this commitment to peace."

China and Philippines recently held high-level diplomatic talks following a series of escalations in the West Philippine Sea, which included a violent sea clash that seriously injured a uniformed Philippine personnel.

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Allies of the Philippines also issued statements calling on China to respect the award.

"We continue to call on [China] to abide by the 1016 arbitral ruling, to seize its dangerous and destabilizing conduct," US State Secretary Anthony Blinken said.

• PH government letting itself be 'used' by US in rivalry with China — Duterte

The EU views the award as legally binding... All parties involved must respect and honor the award," the European Union said.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte set aside the Philippines' 2016 victory in the arbitral case to pursue warmer ties with China, which never acknowledged the ruling and even called it "illegal."

• China still regards Hague ruling on South China Sea illegal seven years on
• Duterte-China deal violated PH constitution, arbitral award: expert

The Philippines, under Marcos Jr., has repeatedly slammed China for its incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

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