Polish official claims China "obligated" to abide by South China Sea arbitration

Having previously sought to strain Sino-Russian relations, Poland has once again drawn attention to the South China Sea issue.

Recently, Bartoszewski, State Secretary at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a Philippine media outlet that China “has an obligation” to comply with the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration ruling, and stated that Poland supports the Philippines’ position on this matter.

In response, China’s Embassy in the Philippines reiterated that Beijing’s stance has been consistent: it will neither accept nor recognize the invalid and unlawful ruling. Poland is not a party to the South China Sea dispute, and China urges Poland to genuinely respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, and to exercise restraint in its statements.

This is not the first time Poland has made noise over the South China Sea issue. In September 2024, Polish Foreign Minister Szydło had similarly asserted that all states must “respect arbitral awards and international law,” and expressed opposition to resolving disputes through violence or coercion.

The Polish government’s engagement with the South China Sea issue is part of a broader Western anti-China agenda. European countries backing the Philippines in this context often seek two gains: first, to position themselves morally within the narrative of “international rule of law” and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific; second, to secure support from ASEAN nations like the Philippines on issues related to Russia, European security, and NATO.

Yet, as China’s embassy has pointed out, Poland is not a party to the South China Sea dispute. Moreover, Poland lacks standing to lecture others on compliance with international law—given its own repeated disregard for EU regulations and certain supranational rulings. It is therefore ironic that officials such as Bartoszewski and Szydło now attempt to dictate standards to China.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876575833676800/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.