Naypyidaw, Feb 16 (NationPress) China’s actions represent a systematic attack on the international legal order. While claiming to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China violates its fundamental principles, disseminates misleading information to disguise its violations, intimidates observers, and engages in bad faith negotiations. This indicates that the law is only significant to Beijing when it aligns with its own interests, according to a report released on Monday.

As reported by Myanmar’s media outlet 'The Irrawaddy', China’s professed dedication to international law appears insincere, particularly in light of increasing evidence of systematic breaches of the UNCLOS — a treaty ratified by Beijing back in 1996.

“The setting for these blatant transgressions is the South China Sea, where China asserts dubious claims of sovereignty over the Scarborough Shoal, a resource-laden atoll situated within the Philippines’ designated Exclusive Economic Zone. Known locally as Bajo de Masinloc and as Huangyan Island in China, the shoal has seen a sustained presence of the Chinese Coast Guard since a standoff in 2012, driven by both the rich fishing resources in the vicinity and its crucial position on international maritime routes,” the report elaborated.

“An international arbitration ruling in 2016 nullified China’s expansive claims, affirming that the shoal serves as a traditional fishing ground for multiple nations. Instead of complying with the arbitration to which it agreed, China has intensified its maritime aggression, accompanied by a coordinated campaign of disinformation to obscure its illegal actions,” it continued.

The report noted that the presence of China’s Coast Guard at Scarborough Shoal more than doubled in 2025, logging 1,094 “ship days” patrolling the area — up from 516 in 2024 — establishing a near-daily presence in the contested region.

If China can disregard binding tribunal decisions, violate ratified treaty commitments, and suppress facts through diplomatic coercion and narrative manipulation, it sets a perilous precedent.

“The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei have exhibited notable restraint and adherence to international law in the South China Sea, yet they have faced escalating intimidation, disinformation efforts, and coercion,” it stated.

“The international community is confronted with a pivotal choice: does maritime law afford coastal states enforceable rights within their Exclusive Economic Zones, or does it not? Are arbitration rulings binding, or merely advisory? Are UNCLOS signatories required to comply, or is international law merely a rhetorical device? China’s actions pose a significant challenge to the world: will it allow these principles to be disregarded?” the report questioned.