Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio has weighed in on the Philippine government’s potential legal recourse against China over the financial losses incurred by Filipino fishermen due to Beijing’s maritime claims.
Carpio, an authority on international law and a strong advocate for the country’s territorial rights, emphasizes that the government can pursue legal action under customary international law. He stresses that the principle of intertemporal law allows the Philippines to seek compensation for the loss of income suffered by its citizens as a result of China’s unlawful activities in the West Philippine Sea.
The senior associate justice points out that this approach has been successfully employed by other countries in similar situations, providing a strong precedent for the Philippines’ case. By highlighting the government’s legal options and emphasizing the country’s rights under international law, Justice Carpio sheds light on the potential avenues available to address the ongoing dispute with China.