Understanding the Spratlys territorial dispute

Prior to making an opinion, every responsible Filipino should know the facts. Before you post anything on social media or open your mouth in public discussion, you need to fill your brains with facts. When it comes to the West Philippine Sea, all mature citizens, who do not want to look stupid, should know the truths on the ground.

All Filipinos should know what we are fighting for. Somewhere inside that body of water Beijing calls the South China Sea and which we Filipinos would rather refer to as the West Philippine Sea, there is a small group of islands, islets, banks, reefs, and cays. It is the Spratly Islands.

A cay is a low island or reef or coral. Cambridge dictionary defines a cay as a small, low island in tropical regions, made of rock, sand, or coral. A reef is a ridge of jagged rock, coral or sand just above or below the surface of the sea. A reef can also be defined as a shoal of rock or similar material beneath the surface of a natural body of water. It may be the result of natural abiotic (non-living) processes such as deposition of sand or wave erosion. However, in tropical regions, coral reefs are results of biotic (living) processes dominated by corals.

The Spratly Islands is only 745 kilometers from Palawan but is subject to a dispute among six states: the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan. There is a pending diplomatic stalemate among these sovereign states and all of them, except Brunei, have occupied some of the islands. Physical occupation is one step of "upping the ante" so to say, or to strengthen the legal standing of their claims.

The following are under the Philippine's actual and physical occupation: First, the Alicia Annie Reef, called the Arellano, which is a sand cay 1.2 meters high with many rocks above high-tide sea level. This reef encloses a lagoon. Second, the Discovery Small Reef, called Burgos, which is above water only during low tide. Third, the Hopps Reef, called Diego Silang, It is a part of Southampton and is above water only during low tide.

The fourth one occupied by the Philippines is the Livock Reef, called Jacinto (the North East portion), also part of the Southampton and is above water only during low tide, except that some rocks there are visible even during high tide. The southwest portion of the Livock Reef is called Bonifacio and is still a part of Southampton. The last one occupied by us is the Menzies Reef called Rajah Lakandula and is awash at low tide.

The biggest is an island which was first discovered by a Filipino, Tomas Cloma, in 1956 but is now occupied by Taiwan. Its international name is Itu Aba, we call it Ligaw and Taiwan named it Taipeng Dao. There is a two-kilometer long airstrip and is now being used as a fishing port. It is a pity that we have been outsmarted, outmaneuvered by other claimants due to our failure to establish infrastructures and put residents in Ligaw.

There are many others now occupied by China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan like the Calderon, Kagitingan, Burgos, Mabini, Panganiban, Zamora, Bulig, Datu Kalantiaw, Binago, Bailan,Rurok, Pugad, Lagos, De Jesus, Magsaysay, Mascardo, Quezon, Roxas, Osmeña, Paredes, Silangan Quezon, Julian Felipe, Pagkakaisa, Hizon, Juan Luna, Lopez Jaena, Timog, Kanlurang Quezon, Celerio, Antonio Luna, Rajah Matanda, Gabriela Silang, Pawikan, and Mariveles.

The municipality of Kalayaan is an official municipality and part of the Province of Palawan. Cloma issued a document, entitled "Notice To The Whole World". In 1956, Tomas Cloma ceded the Spratlys to the Republic of the Philippines for a symbolic consideration of one peso. In 1968, Marcos sent Philippine troops to the islands and we took possession of the following: Pag-asa, Parola, Likas, Kota, Lawak, Pugad, Patag, and Panata.

It was only in 1972, under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. that the Philippine government incorporated the island municipality of Kalayaan as a component of the province of Palawan. Marcos issued Presidential Decree 1596 on June 11, 1978, formally annexing Kalayaan Island as part and parcel of the Philippine national territory. Today, we have a government and a group of Filipino residents on the island, with a mayor, and all other officials, a school, and other government facilities.

We need to stand firm and determined to hold on to what rightfully belongs to us. The national territory is non-negotiable and sovereignty cannot be subject to any negotiation or contract.