Manila: The National Maritime Council (NMC) announced on Saturday that the Philippines will persist in lawful maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to safeguard its sovereignty and support Filipino fishers. The NMC emphasized the country's firm stance that its actions in the WPS are both lawful and responsible, guided by international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award.
According to Philippines News Agency, the NMC responded to recent remarks from China regarding the situation in the WPS, asserting that the Philippines' lawful activities should not be misconstrued as acts of aggression or provocation. The NMC highlighted that the Philippines remains committed to a policy of restraint, transparency, and adherence to international law.
The NMC reiterated that Philippine maritime operations will persist to protect national sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and the welfare of Filipinos, particularly traditional fishers and coastal communities dependent on the sea for their livelihood. The statement followed criticism from the Chinese Embassy in Manila, which accused the Philippines of using fishers as political tools in sensitive waters and claimed that UNCLOS does not recognize the term 'maritime zones.'
The NMC underscored the significance of the 2016 arbitral ruling, which clarified UNCLOS's application in the South China Sea and the WPS, affirming the Philippines' maritime entitlements, including sovereign rights over features within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, such as Ayungin Shoal and Panganiban Reef. The tribunal identified harm caused by large-scale land reclamation, artificial island building, and the harvesting of endangered marine species by Chinese vessels within the Philippines' EEZ and in Bajo de Masinloc.
The NMC stressed that the Philippines has adhered to UNCLOS and that its pursuit of arbitration was grounded in both UNCLOS and general international law. The NMC noted that both the Philippines and China had consented to compulsory arbitration upon ratifying UNCLOS and that the maritime issues raised by the Philippines were within the Tribunal's jurisdiction under UNCLOS.
The NMC reaffirmed the country's commitment to managing differences peacefully through dialogue and confidence-building measures while remaining resolute in defending its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in support of a rules-based maritime order. The council emphasized the importance of preventing misunderstandings and miscalculations at sea and ensuring that activities are conducted safely, professionally, and in alignment with international law. The NMC expressed readiness to engage constructively, in good faith, and with mutual respect, for peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.
