U.S., UK and 12 nations reaffirm 2016 ruling against China's South China Sea claims

The United States, United Kingdom and 12 other countries issued a joint statement on Sunday rejecting China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea. The statement cited the 2016 arbitration ruling that found no legal basis for those claims under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The countries said they rejected "destabilizing" actions that threaten regional peace and stability. They also called for upholding freedom of navigation and overflight and for resolving disputes peacefully under the 1982 U.N. convention.

Background on the 2016 ruling The arbitration tribunal largely ruled in favor of the Philippines, which initiated the case in 2013 after a standoff that ended with China taking control of a disputed shoal. China refused to participate in the arbitration and rejected the final ruling.

The tribunal determined there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources outside areas recognized under the convention. The convention took effect in 1994 and has been ratified by more than 170 countries and parties, including China and the Philippines.

Countries involved and recent tensions The statement listed the Philippines, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia alongside the U.S. and Britain. Officials from these nations reiterated opposition to unilateral actions taken by force or coercion.

Territorial confrontations have increased in recent years, particularly involving Chinese and Philippine or Vietnamese forces and fishing fleets. Chinese coast guard ships have used water cannons, lasers and blocking maneuvers that have led to collisions and high-risk encounters.