Manila: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) emphasized on Tuesday that any support for China's claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) that undermines the Philippines' territorial rights is considered 'treason.'

According to Philippines News Agency, Commodore Jay Tarriela, who serves as the PCG spokesperson for the WPS, made this declaration in response to ongoing debates among elected officials concerning the WPS and recent comments made by the Chinese Embassy in Manila. Tarriela attributed the instability and increasing tension in the South China Sea (SCS) to the People's Republic of China's (PRC) interests and actions.

Tarriela criticized China's approach, asserting that the unfolding situation in the SCS and WPS will not align with China's propaganda and intimidation tactics. He stressed that every violation and provocation by Beijing in the WPS will be brought to the attention of the international community, highlighting how these actions disrupt regional stability and contravene the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other international laws.

Assuring the public of the government's commitment, Tarriela reaffirmed that the Philippines will steadfastly defend its sovereign territory. He stated that President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. will not concede any part of the nation's territory to foreign powers.

The issue was further highlighted by a recent debate between Senators Francis Pangilinan and Rodante Marcoleta regarding the coordinates of the WPS, specifically the Philippines' 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as defined by the 2016 arbitral ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Marcoleta suggested that there had been no specific computations or coordinates for the WPS, while Pangilinan pointed to the arbitral ruling, which affirmed the Philippines' rights over approximately 500,000 square kilometers of the SCS and dismissed China's nine-dash line claim over the area.