On February 25, 2015, Justice Antonio T. Carpio delivered a lecture titled “Historical Facts and Lies in the West Philippine Sea” at the Lopez Museum, addressing the historical, legal, and geopolitical dimensions of maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea. The presentation critically examined China’s 9-dashed line claim and exposed the inaccuracies in its historical assertions, positioning them as propaganda contrary to international law.
Justice Carpio emphasized that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), not historical discovery, occupation, or conquest, provides the legal framework for determining maritime rights. UNCLOS regulates maritime zones such as territorial seas, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and extended continental shelves (ECSs), and establishes mechanisms for resolving maritime disputes among member states. The lecture clarified that while territorial disputes are governed by general international law, maritime disputes fall squarely under UNCLOS, which binds all signatories, including the Philippines and China.
A central focus of the lecture was China’s historical claims within the 9-dashed lines, which assert sovereignty over much of the South China Sea. Carpio dissected China’s arguments, showing that their historical evidence is inconsistent and legally invalid. For example, China’s claims over Scarborough Shoal, Mischief Reef, Subi Reef, and James Shoal were contrasted against UNCLOS provisions, showing that these features are either low-tide elevations or non-habitable rocks that cannot generate EEZs. Historical references cited by China, such as alleged surveys by Chinese astronomers during the Yuan Dynasty, were demonstrated to be physically and logically impossible, further undermining China’s assertions.
The lecture also highlighted the Philippine historical presence in the region, tracing human habitation over 4,000 years ago and the spread of Austronesian languages as evidence of the Philippines’ early maritime activity and regional influence. Carpio stressed that the Philippines’ EEZ and ECS in the West Philippine Sea must be protected under its 1987 Constitution, which reserves the use and enjoyment of marine resources exclusively for Filipinos. Any joint venture with China that compromises these rights would constitute a violation of the Constitution.
Justice Carpio concluded by underscoring the importance of adhering to UNCLOS and international law in resolving maritime disputes. The lecture aimed to clarify the legal and historical foundations for Philippine claims, counter false propaganda, and affirm the country’s sovereign rights over its EEZ and ECS in the West Philippine Sea.
Venues / Related Presentations:
- Lopez Museum, February 25, 2015 – Historical Facts and Lies in the West Philippine Sea
- February 17, 2015 – Historical Facts, Historical Truths, and Historical Lies in the West Philippine Sea
- April 30, 2014 – Historical Truths and Lies: Scarborough Shoal in Ancient Maps Catalogue
- March 6, 2014 – Historical Facts, Historical Lies, and Historical Rights in the West Philippine Sea
Erratum:
Dates of multiple presentations on the same day are subject to verification.