Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr.

"The Arbitral Tribunal ruled that China's claim to historic rights to resources in the South China Sea is without a legal basis," Secretary of State Locsin said in a statement.

He also cited China's actions in violation of the ruling, including large-scale reclamation and illegal construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea, seriously affecting the environment.

"Complying with the ruling in accordance with the obligations of the Philippines and China according to international law," Secretary of State Locsin said.

The statement was made on the occasion of the 4-day Permanent Court of Arbitration Court (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands, which ruled the South China Sea.

After coming to power in 2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte enforced a policy of getting closer to China and shied away from enforcing the PCA's ruling because it would lead to war.