According to Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, the 2016 verbal agreement between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping has emboldened Chinese vessels to remain in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This deal allowed China to fish within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), sparking controversy over the country’s sovereignty.
Justice Carpio, a vocal advocate for Philippine territorial rights, has long criticized the government’s handling of the WPS issue. He believes that Duterte’s agreement with Xi Jinping undermines the country’s claim to the disputed territory and emboldens Chinese aggression in the region.
The Philippines has been locked in a maritime dispute with China over the WPS for years, with Beijing claiming historical rights to the area. The country’s sovereignty over the territory is enshrined in the 2013 Supreme Court ruling, which declared that the WPS is an integral part of the Philippine archipelago.
As tensions between the two countries escalate, Justice Carpio’s warnings have gained renewed attention, highlighting the need for a more assertive stance on the country’s territorial claims. His comments come as the Philippines faces mounting pressure from China to recognize its claims to the WPS.