MANILA, Philippines — The National Maritime Council expressed support for President Marcos’ statement that the Philippines would continue protecting the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) “no matter what any other foreign power does.”
“The Philippines, while committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes and proper diplomatic approaches, will never waver in protecting its national territory and maritime domain,” the council said in a statement issued last Saturday.
“The National Maritime Council reiterates President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s firm declaration to assert and defend our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” it added.
WPS pertains to the portion of the South China Sea that is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, states have sovereign rights to explore, exploit, and conserve and manage natural resources within their EEZ.
In 2016, a Hague-based tribunal voided China’s maritime claim, which covers virtually the entire South China Sea, and affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its EEZ.
“We stand resolute against any foreign intrusion into our maritime zones and will never cease upholding our rights and honoring our duties under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral award,” the council said.
During a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday, the President was asked whether he would change his approach on the maritime row since the so-called Chinese monster ship has been prowling the waters off Zambales for a month.
Marcos admitted that the Philippines does not have the capability to drive away the ship but vowed to continue asserting the Philippines’ rights in WPS.
The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy would continue to do their mandate “no matter what any other foreign power does," he said.
The 12,000-ton Chinese coast guard vessel CCG-5901, which has anti-aircraft guns and is capable of conducting extended missions, arrived near Panatag Shoal last month, a deployment that the Philippines has described as “illegal.”