As a Filipino Citizen, I am deeply concerned that many countries including our neighboring ASEAN countries are claiming one of our fluvial territories, the West Philippine Sea. Our country is a water locked nation hence our industry clusters heavily relies on this territory.
The West Philippine Sea is rich with oil and natural resources that is why there are currently six countries that are currently claiming territory over this marine area. With our current arbitration case against China over the West Philippine Sea, one of our territories is being withheld from being used for livelihood by our fellow Filipinos. Oil exploration has been biggest point of contention in this area specifically for China and the Philippines who are fighting over this precious commodity because of its scarcity in supply. Over the past few years, China has been aggressive in their pursuit in claiming the disputed territories. Reports of reclaimed airstrips and military facilities being built in the West Philippine Sea have been resurfacing in the news and social media channels.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the primary legal reference of the Philippine team when they presented the case in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. As of November 2015, the Philippines won the first round of the arbitration. This is a big victory for the Philippine contingent since we will be able to fully present our case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ruling was that China and the Philippines are both covered by the treaty hence the provisions stipulated therein are held against or in favor of the two nations. The fact that China does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICJ means that the Philippines contingent has a bigger chance of having the decision ruled in favor of the Philippines.
I am hoping that given the initial victory of the Philippines in the ICJ will be leading to the awarding of the West Philippine Sea ultimately as a territory of the Philippines.
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