Why the West Philippine Sea is important?
The West Philippine Sea is said to have abundant aquatic and fishery resources, and natural gas fields. It has great potential to be one of the country’s sources of natural gas and cheaper electricity, which could ultimately address energy security concerns of the Philippines.
What is the meaning of Scarborough Shoal?
Scarborough Shoal is a rock in the South China Sea, approximately 120 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon. There are no structures built on Scarborough Shoal, but the feature is effectively controlled by China, which has maintained a constant coast guard presence at the feature since 2012.
Why is the Spratly Islands important?
The Spratly area holds potentially significant, but largely unexplored, reserves of oil and natural gas, it is a productive area for world fishing, it is one of the busiest areas of commercial shipping traffic, and surrounding countries would get an extended continental shelf if their claims were recognized.
What is the claim of the Philippines on the West Philippine Sea?
The ruling, which the PCA made on July 12, 2016, recognized the exclusive rights of the Philippines over the West Philippines Sea and pronounced that China’s nine-dash line claim — an imaginary line that claims most of the South China Sea as a part of Chinese — had no legal and historical basis.
What is the claim of China on West Philippines Sea?
Mr. President, China has claimed “historic rights” in areas that are beyond 200 M from its mainland coasts, or any land feature over which it claims sovereignty, and within 200 M of the coasts of the Philippines’ main islands, and exploited the resources in these areas while preventing the Philippines from doing so.
What caused the West Philippine Sea disputes?
The Chinese occupation of Scarborough Shoal is an invasion of Philippine territory, giving rise to a territorial sovereignty dispute. However, the Philippines could not bring China to compulsory arbitration on a territorial sovereignty dispute without China’s consent.
What is the claim of the Philippines in South China Sea?
The Philippine claims to sovereignty over the features known as Scarborough Shoal and the KIG are independent of its archipelagic status both legally and historically. Because Scarborough Shoal is a feature which exists above high tide, it is capable of [sovereign] appropriation under international law.
Does China claim the Philippines?
China lays claim to most of the waters within a so-called Nine Dash Line, which is also contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. … “Chinese Coast Guard ships and the militia are in the Philippines’ EEZ more than they were five years ago.”
What is the dispute between China and Philippines?
Friction between China and the Philippines gives the United States more influence in the maritime sovereignty dispute, experts have told VOA in the past. Manila has longstanding, close military ties with Washington, which sees the Philippines as one in a string of Western Pacific allies.