At least 44 nations have expressed support for the Arbitral Award issued in the South China Sea arbitration, according to a report by Philstar.com.

The 2016 award, rendered by an arbitral tribunal constituted under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), rejected expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines brought the case against China in 2013, and the tribunal issued its award on 12 July 2016 in The Hague.

The reported count of at least 44 supporting nations signals sustained international backing for the award nearly a decade after it was issued. Governments that publicly endorse the ruling typically characterise it as final and legally binding on the parties, and as a settled part of the international law of the sea framework established by UNCLOS.

For practitioners, the development carries practical weight. Statements of state support contribute to the practice and opinio juris that shape how tribunals and courts interpret UNCLOS provisions on maritime entitlements, historic rights and dispute settlement. Counsel advising governments or commercial clients operating in contested waters will track the list of supporting states closely, because the breadth of endorsement affects the award's authority in subsequent proceedings and in diplomatic negotiations.

The report does not specify the full roster of the 44 nations or the precise diplomatic context in which the tally was compiled. Support for the award has historically been voiced through statements at multilateral forums, bilateral communiqués and interventions at the UN, with backing concentrated among Southeast Asian states, Western governments and other UNCLOS parties.

China rejected the award at the time of its issuance and does not accept the tribunal's jurisdiction in the matter. Beijing maintains its position that the dispute should be resolved through bilateral negotiation.

The Philippine government, which succeeded in the arbitration, continues to cite the award as the legal foundation for its maritime entitlements in the South China Sea. The reported figure of at least 44 supporting nations reinforces Manila's position that the ruling commands broad international recognition despite non-compliance by the opposing party.

Legal observers note that an arbitral award under Annex VII of UNCLOS is binding only on the parties to the dispute. Broader state support nonetheless matters: it strengthens the precedential weight of the tribunal's findings in future cases and raises the political and reputational cost of conduct inconsistent with the award.

The tally reported by Philstar.com reflects statements of position by UN member states. It does not in itself create new legal obligations, but it documents the extent to which the international community treats the 2016 ruling as authoritative on the questions the tribunal decided.