Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has countered President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that China is in possession of the West Philippine Sea. According to Carpio, the government should not yield to threats of war and that this is not the only way to defend the Philippines’ rights.
Carpio emphasized that the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016 already declared that China has no legal basis to claim sovereignty over the WPS. He also stressed that the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf extend beyond the 12-nautical mile limit, covering the entire Kalayaan Island Group.
Carpio warned that yielding to China’s claims would set a bad precedent and undermine the rule of law. He urged the government to assert its rights under international law and to seek the support of other countries in defending the country’s interests.