Photo by ABO LIMOS. The Philippines filed a protest before the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. Sure, ASEAN has its own shortcomings, but serious issues … On July 12, a UN arbitration tribunal is expected to issue a ruling on one of these disputes – the maritime case filed by the Philippines against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague – on whether the Philippines' rights to its EEZ under UNCLOS were violated by China. The Philippines refers to the area of the South China Sea that it controls as the West Philippine Sea. China also built a 55-meter-high lighthouse in Subi Reef, called Zamora Reef by the Philippines. 15 talking about this. He devoted a lot of time on the issue of West Philippine Sea in his State of the Nation Address on Monday. As to this issue become trend, Philippine put its effort to diplomatically claim that the territorial disputed area exclusively part of our territorial sovereignty. It is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales in the South China Sea and is part of the municipality of Masinloc, Zambales. N JULY 12, the Permanent Arbitration Court in The Hague, capped a long and tense dispute involving the South China Sea by ruling in favor of the Philippines over China. This will enable China to monitor air and sea traffic in any point of the waters. Not satisfied with what it has already taken, China continues to annex more and more islets in the disputed area using what it calls the “Cabbage Strategy.” The strategy involves surrounding islands with as much ships as possible to seal it off from food, water, and other supplies. Now his top two security officials - Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon are doing damage control- issuing clarification about the President’s explanation. Many speculate that once China has fully militarized the area, it will be in the position to require all ocean vessels and aircrafts to obtain prior clearance before it can be allowed passage. I think we should all be doing more to arrest China’s diabolical intentions. In 2016, the tribunal ruled in the Philippine’s favor saying that China’s nine-dash line is invalid. Last year, former White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon, went on record with this statement: “The United States is certain to go to war versus China within the next 10 years.” The statement was said in reaction to China’s militarization of the West Philippine Sea and its relentless grab of territories belonging to other sovereign nations. China is testing how far it can go. Below are useful references on the issues involving the West Philippine Sea, the South China Sea and the arbitration case between the Philippines and China: Case Digest and Summary of Findings on The Republic of Philippines v. The People’s Republic of China by the Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, University of the Philippines. the Panatag Shoal (called internationally as Scarborough Shoal and Huangyan Island by China). For the US, the loss of its right to passage in the disputed area will weaken its economic, political, and military sway in the Pacific Rim. This will give China unprecedented control over the flow of goods and people in the most populous region in the world. As for the EU, Australia, and the rest of the Americas, their free access to the largest markets in the world will be subject to Chinese “approval” and control. The obvious reason is for its natural resources. The … If it is to be given credence, then Italy can also claim the entire continent of Europe. However, China took control of Panatag Shoal in 2012 and built an artificial island in the Fiery Cross Reef, called Kagitingan Reef by the Philippines. Philippines is one of the richest country for having different species that can be found all over the archipelago. Dispute in the West Philippine Sea between China and the Philippines became the number one issue all over the world. The present situation in the West Philippine Sea, the China aggressively denying Filipino fisherman to the area and worst is they are building artificial islands where they build military bases which destroys the ecology and marine life in the area. The nine-dash line is a preposterous claim by any account. Yet, China claims it as part of its own EEZ in blatant defiance of the UN accord. These oil fields supply 15% of annual oil consumption in the Philippines. All these have caused tensions to escalate. Agusan del Norte 1st district Rep. Lawrence Fortun said Sunday that the Philippines can expect more support from the United States on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue now that Democrat Joe Biden has been named president-elect. The land area is less than 5 square kilometers right at the center of West Philippine Sea. 1/6 of the Philippines territory are these islands. Carpio issued this statement after Duterte dedicated a portion of his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) to tackle the West Philippine Sea on Monday, July 27. From 2013 to 2015, China successfully reclaimed and militarized seven reefs in the South China Sea, five of which are in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines and China: The West Philippine Sea dispute. The matter at hand that the Philippines who has a legitimate claim on the territory because it is granted to it by UNCLOS cannot freely exploit its own Exclusive Economic Zone is a threat to the existence of the … Philippine Daily Inquirer / 10:14 PM September 05, 2019. This research paper aims to show the perspective of both the Philippine and China in the South China Sea dispute. China is a signatory to the 1994 United Nation’s convention of the Laws of the Seas. It is the Duterte administration’s constitutional and moral duty to assert our country’s rights, honor, and dignity. maritime dispute between China on one side and on the other side, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia,  Brunei  and Indonesia  as these countries resist China’s  9-dashed Lines claim as it encroaches on their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZs). Speaking at the West Philippine Sea forum, Morales pointed out that Manila’s 2016 arbitral victory against China’s expansive claim in the West Philippine Sea showed that the Chinese government violated its obligation to protect the marine environment through “tolerance of Chinese illegal fishing, massive land reclamation and the construction of artificial islands.” China’s continuous possession of these islands will be a perpetual dagger pointed at our throat. This is known as “innocent passage.” Missile destroyers have been deployed and B1 Bombers are on standby in Australia. By continued use, you agree to our privacy policy and accept our use of such cookies. The second reason is to further expand its territory using the “continuous annex strategy.” See, the more islands China claims as its own, the more it can invoke ITLOS laws to further annex another 200 kilometers of EEZ. The naming of the area became official through Administrative Order No. Or close to $ 1 trillion i don ’ t recognize PH win. The radar horizon many Filipinos are still in doubt if where did the conflict started China. Be given credence, then Italy can also claim the entire West Philippine Sea dispute conflicting territorial and maritime by. Veronica Pulumbarit and Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RSJ, GMA News the monetary value of our marine ecosystems in 2007 thought. The Hague for war can travel below the radar horizon is armed 50! “ innocent passage. ” missile destroyers have been deployed and B1 Bombers are on standby Australia... 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