Manila, July 13 -- The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to international maritime law, saying the 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea remains final and legally binding on both the Philippines and China.

In a statement on Sunday marking the 10th anniversary of the ruling, the EU's high representative said the award must be respected and fully implemented as a key step toward the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The ruling was issued by an independent arbitral tribunal constituted under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"The EU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to UNCLOS, which reflects and codifies customary international law and sets out the universal and unified legal framework within ...