Justice Antonio Carpio, a leading authority on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute, emphasizes that the Philippines can enforce its rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by requesting assistance from its allies. In an exclusive interview with ANC’s Karen Davila, Carpio highlights the importance of surveying features in the WPS to validate the country’s claims.
Carpio explains that the Philippines can invoke a provision under UNCLOS, Article 303, which allows states to request assistance from other countries to enforce their rights. This collective enforcement mechanism is crucial in asserting the country’s sovereignty over the WPS.
According to Carpio, surveying features in the WPS is essential to determining the extent of Philippine territory and validating its claims. He stresses that this process should be done jointly with other countries to ensure transparency and credibility.