Fourteen countries have reaffirmed the legal validity of the landmark 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, marking its 10th anniversary with a rare joint statement that rejects China's sweeping maritime claims and calls for disputes to be resolved under international law.

The statement, issued by the Philippines, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada, and seven other countries, says the arbitration remains final and legally binding between China and the Philippines. It also reiterates the tribunal's finding that China's claims based on so-called "historic rights" and the "nine-dash line" have no legal basis under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The signatories reaffirmed support for freedom of navigation and overflight, opposed the use of coast guard vessels, military forces, and maritime militia to intimidate other countries, and urged all parties to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and international legal mechanisms.

The arbitration case began after a 2012 standoff near Scarborough Shoal. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled that China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone through activities including island-building and interference with Philippine fishing operations. The tribunal also determined that maritime features in the Spratly Islands, including Taiwan-administered Taiping Island, are not legally entitled to generate 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones.

Analysts say the joint statement is unlikely to alter China's position, but demonstrates continued backing for resolving South China Sea disputes through international law. They say it also reflects the growing importance of the issue to Indo-Pacific security and the rules-based international order.