Ipinagmalaki ni Pangulong Duterte sa ASEAN – China Summit na ambag ng Pilipinas sa international law ang 2016 Arbitral Award sa isyu ng agawan ng teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea.
“The 2016 Arbitral Award is a significant contribution to the corpus of international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS. It singles out no one,” pahayag ni Pangulong Duterte.
Dagdag pa niya; ” Rather, it justly favors and benefits the community of law-abiding nations by providing clarity to all. This clarity — which is beyond compromise — is the Philippines’ humble contribution to the international legal order.”
Kasabay nito ang kanyang pangako sa pagsunod sa 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Nangako din ito na susunod sa freedom of navigation at pangangalagaan ang marine environment alinsunod sa sa UNCLOS.
“Talks should not remain empty rhetoric. They should be translated into action to fortify the trust and confidence that have cultivated through the years. Acta non verba. Deeds, not words,” sabi pa nito.