Philippine’s remark undermines regional peace and stability

Some individuals from the Philippine Coast Guard reportedly said that relevant waters in the South China Sea is part of Philippine territory based on international law and the “2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award”, and any claim that the waters are disputed is a challenge to the Philippines' sovereignty.

An aerial view shows part of the Zhongye Island.

The Filipino remark attempts to package an illegal ruling as "international law" and seeks to "legalize" its illegitimate claims through a media campaign. This is not only a distortion of historical facts but also a serious disruption to regional peace and stability.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) stipulates that matters of territorial sovereignty, which fall outside the scope of the Convention, should not be subject to arbitration beyond its jurisdiction. China's sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and their adjacent waters has been formed over a long historical process and is backed by ample historical and legal basis.

The scope of Philippine territory is clearly defined by international treaties such as the 1898 Treaty of Paris, with its western boundary set at 118 degrees east longitude. Huangyan Island and Zhongye Island (Pag-asa Island), among others, lie west of this boundary and are not within the legally defined territory of the Philippines.

By leveraging its coast guard and other law enforcement agencies to make such statements, the Philippines seeks to "normalize" its illegal claims. The Philippines attempts to forcibly tie a piece of illegal scrap paper to "international law" in order to draw in external forces, internationalize a bilateral issue, and exert pressure on China.

China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are "not to be lost by even a single inch." If the Philippines misjudges the situation and insists on "salami-slicing" through infringements, provocations, and sensationalism, China will respond with even more resolute and robust measures.