Table of Contents
Does China own the West Philippine Sea?
Despite being favored by the historic 2016 ruling of the International Permanent Court of Arbitration that declared China’s expansive maritime claims to be devoid of legal basis, the Philippines continues to face harassment from the superpower in its own West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Why Scarborough Shoal belongs to the Philippines?
The Philippines claims that title to Scarborough Shoal passed from Spain to the United States in 1898 along with all other Spanish maritime features surrounding the Philippines archipelago. Following independence from the United States, the Philippines inherited title to the Scarborough Shoal.
When did China claim Spratly?
China claims to have discovered the islands in the Han dynasty in 2 BC. The islands were claimed to have been marked on maps compiled during the time of Eastern Han dynasty and Eastern Wu (one of the Three Kingdoms).
Is it West Philippine Sea or South China Sea?
The West Philippine Sea is the term Manila uses to describe the eastern parts of the South China Sea that are within its EEZ and territorial waters. Lorenzana has previously claimed that Huang had promised to look into the Chinese coastguard’s alleged blocking of the resupply vessels.
Is Duterte too accommodating to China in the West Philippine Sea?
Back in the Philippines, Duterte’s stance on the West Philippine Sea has been constantly criticized for appearing to be too accommodating to China. When he became President in 2016, he pursued closer ties with China in exchange of economic deals and investments.
Is Duterte Beijing’s new best friend?
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, Beijing’s new best friend, has swiftly pivoted away from the US and into China’s arms, and arrived in Beijing today for a high-profile visit where he’s promised to improve economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Is Duterte the owner of the fishing rights in EEZ?
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m the owner, and I’m just giving the fishing rights,” Duterte told Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in his show “Give Us This Day.” The President has earned a sharp rebuke for earlier saying that China could fish in Manila’s EEZ, revealing a 2016 verbal fishing deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
What are the geostrategic implications of Duterte’s decision to step down?
Duterte’s realization will have significant geostrategic implications between now and the end of his term in June 2022, when the Philippine Constitution requires him to step down. Duterte’s ire with Washington peaked on Feb. 11, 2020 when he decided to terminate the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).