FALSE: There’s no int’l recognition, legal basis on ‘West PH Sea’ vs ‘South China Sea’ rift

Sebastian Janapin

Several posts online showed expelled Congressman Kiko Barzaga claiming that there is no legal basis for the West Philippine Sea’s international recognition.

CLAIM

Circulating posts from two Facebook pages showed that Kiko Barzaga made a statement about the legal status of the West Philippine Sea amidst its rift with China. Barzaga, in the claimed statement, said that the rest of the international community recognizes ‘South China Sea’ as the body of water to the west of the country and not ‘West Philippine Sea’.

RATING: FALSE

CONCLUSION

Barzaga’s claim is deemed false as there is international recognition and legal basis on the West Philippine Sea’s fate in its rift with China’s nine-dash line claims.

The country’s legal recognition of the West Philippine Sea is based on a 2016 ruling from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

THE FACTS

• The Philippines’ legal basis for its stand on the West Philippine Sea generally came from the 2016 arbitral ruling from the UNCLOS.
• The 2016 UNCLOS arbitral ruling further supports several domestic legislations of the country relating to maritime territories, such as: Republic Act No. 9522 (The Philippines Baselines Act); Republic Act No. 12064 (The Philippine Maritime Zones Act); and Republic Act No. 12065 (The Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act).
• In 2013, the Philippines faced China’s nine-dash line claims before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Netherlands, with the majority of the court ruling in favor of the country in 2016.
• Since the 2016 UNCLOS ruling was released, China has continued to assert its maritime claims on the area and has shown aggression within the territory.
• Last December 2024, coinciding with UNCLOS’ 42nd anniversary, the Philippines reaffirmed its dedication to uphold the provisions and principles indicated in the convention.

THE BOTTOMLINE

The West Philippine Sea, based on the 2016 UNCLOS arbitral ruling, is under the Philippine maritime territory.