Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has cautioned that China risks another legal defeat if it proceeds with the arrest of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. In a recent interview, Carpio emphasized that the Philippines has a strong case against China’s claims to the disputed territory, citing international law and historical evidence. The former justice pointed out that China’s actions are not only a threat to the livelihoods of Filipino fishermen but also undermine the country’s sovereignty over its territorial waters.
Carpio noted that the Philippines has consistently maintained that it has sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea, as evidenced by the 2013 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. He argued that China’s continued assertion of its claims in the area is a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The retired justice warned that if China pushes through with the arrest of Filipino fishermen, it would be a sure legal defeat for Beijing. He emphasized that the Philippines will not back down in defending its territorial rights and will continue to assert its claims through diplomatic and legal means.