Addressing the United National General Assembly high-level general debate for the first time, President Rodrigo Duterte asserted the July 2016 arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines in the South China Sea territorial row and welcomed the support of other states. He said the ruling is “now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon.” “We firmly reject attempts to undermine it,” he said as he addressed the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2020 (New York date).

Duterte asserts PH victory in South China Sea. (2020, September 24). SunStar Cebu, p. 14.