Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has cautioned China that the Philippines may pursue another arbitration case against them over the ongoing maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea. This warning comes as China continues to assert its claims and harass Filipino fishermen and vessels in the disputed waters.
Carpio, a vocal advocate for Philippine sovereignty in the region, stressed that the country has the right to take its case to an international tribunal again if diplomatic efforts fail. He pointed out that the Philippines had previously won a landmark arbitration case against China in 2016, which rejected Beijing’s nine-dash claim over most of the South China Sea.
Despite this historic victory, China has continued to disregard the ruling and maintain its aggressive stance in the region. Carpio emphasized that the Philippine government should not be afraid to take further action if necessary to protect its interests.