WEST PHILIPPINE SEA ISSUE
(GROUP 5)
HISTORY OF WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
HISTORY OF WEST PHILIppiNE SEA
The first use of the term "West Philippine Sea" by the Philippine
national government was as early as 2011, during the administration of
President Benigno Aquino III. The naming was intended for purposes of the
national mapping system and to symbolize disagreement with China's
sovereignty claim over the whole South China Sea.
In the House of Representatives, Akbayan representative Walden Bello
filed a resolution in June 2011 urging the government to look into the process
of changing the name of the South China Sea to "Western Philippine Sea". The
proposal to have a different naming for the sea has received support from the
Armed Forces of the Philippines, which has been using the West Philippine
Sea since the mid-2000s.
That was codified by administrative order in September 2012, and its
application clarified as limited to waters within the Philippine Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ), which mandated use of that term by departments,
subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities of the Philippine government.
The Philippine government then announced that it would start using the name
to refer to waters west of the Philippines as "West Philippine Sea" in
government maps, other forms of communication and documents.
In September 2012, the Philippine government announced that it would start
using the name to refer to waters west of the Philippines as "West Philippine
Sea" in government maps, other forms of communication and documents.
2016 PCA ruling
On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the
Philippines in a case not involving naming. It clarified that "The Tribunal has
not been asked to, and does not purport to, delimit any maritime boundary
between the Parties or involving any other State bordering on the South China
Sea". The tribunal also ruled that China has "no historical rights" based on the
"nine-dash line" map.
CLAIMS OF THE PHILIPPINES IN
THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
Aside from 17th-century maps, international treaties, and even Chinese
records, we know that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines
because international law says so, even before the landmark victory of Filipinos
in the Philippines versus China case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in
2016.
In 2009, in accordance with the rules and deadlines set by the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippines amended its
baselines law, which defines the boundaries of the country’s territory.
The late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who was an expert on maritime
and international law, kept her colleagues up to task on this matter, even
reprimanding them when they proposed that we include the entire Spratly Islands
in our baselines. “The unacceptable choice is to claim as much territory as we
want, alienate the rest of the international community, and operate as a pariah in
international law," she said.
Such was the foresight of the late senator that when the Permanent Court of
Arbitration decided in 2016, it considered the merits of the baselines law that the
Philippines defined in 2009, and found it perfect. Because of that, we gained for
ourselves an ironclad defense that says we own all the islands that China is
occupying in the West Philippine Sea.
Such was the foresight of the late senator that when the Permanent Court of
Arbitration decided in 2016, it considered the merits of the baselines law that
the Philippines defined in 2009, and found it perfect. Because of that, we
gained for ourselves an ironclad defense that says we own all the islands that
China is occupying in the West Philippine Sea.
Majority of the countries of the world, especially members of the U.N.,
recognize the Court’s decision. It also means that they recognize the
Philippines’ sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea. Their support
ensured very important protection and leverage for the Philippines against
China, who is historically hesitant to take drastic action if it risks losing
international prestige. Acting against the opinion of a majority of U.N
members is risking losing international prestige and influence.
COUNTRIES THAT CLAIM WEST
PHILIPPINE SEA
COUNTRIES THAT CLAIM WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
VIETNAM
-According to the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Vietnam
is strengthening its maritime militia. Vietnam's territorial waters in the SCS
extend to the East and Southeast, including the continental shelf, islands, and
archipelagos.
PHILIPPINES
-The Philippine claims to sovereignty over the features known as
Scarborough Shoal and the KIG are independent of its archipelagic status both
legally and historically. Because Scarborough Shoal is a feature which exists
above high tide, it is capable of sovereign appropriation under international law.
CHINA
-Insofar as territorial sovereignty claims to the land features is concerned, China
claims sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands (Nanhai Zhudao), which comprise
of the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Qundao), the Paracel Islands (Xisha Qundao),
Macclesfield Bank and Scarborough Shoal (Zhongsha Qundao) and the Spratlys .
BRUNEI
Brunei first asserted rights to a roughly rectangular chunk of the disputed sea shortly
after gaining independence from Britain in 1984.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia claims a portion of the South China Sea north of Borneo, which
encompasses at least 12 features in the Spratly Islands chain, including Vietnam-
occupied Amboyna Cay and Barque Canada Reef, along with Commodore and Rizal
reefs, which are both occupied by the Philippines.
HOW THE WEST PHILIPPINE ISSUE AFFECTS
THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POLITICAL
RELATIONSHIPS OF THE PHILIPPINE TO
OTHER COUNTRIES
Up until to this day the West Philippine issue is still a big threat not only
to the national government but also down to the local ones. It will surely
affect so many aspects, however, on top of the list is economic growth. The
business industries that are involved in fishing will be limited because the
area where they can fish will also be limited. The part of the sea where the
Philippines and China are both fighting for-the Scarborough Shoal territory
in particular, is a big help because it is a sea area where the water resources
are abundant.
In addition, not only the economy will be affected, but also the
relationship of the two countries involved. It will put an end somehow in
the beautiful relationship that the countries have right now. The issue may
anger the governments of the said countries and might draw a strict line
between one another.
