PHNO-HL: DFA: NAMING OF 'WEST PHILIPPINE SEA' AN EXERCISE OF INHERENT RIGHT

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DFA: NAMING OF 'WEST PHILIPPINE SEA' AN EXERCISE OF INHERENT
RIGHT
MANILA, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Pia Lee-Brago -
There was no renaming of the South China Sea, only of areas covered by the
Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Department of Foreign Affairs
(DFA) clarified on Friday.

[PHOTO - Reed Bank, West Philippines Sea, Province of
Palawan, Philippines]
DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the naming of the western side of the
Philippines' EEZ as the West Philippine Sea is an exercise of the country's
"inherent right" to identify and name the areas within its maritime domain.
He stressed that this action is consistent with Philippine and international
laws, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"We are just naming that portion of the South China Sea which we consider
ours and this is provided for by international law, specifically UNCLOS,"
Hernandez told reporters.

[The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
guaranteed 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, China, Vietnam,
Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. UNCLOS did not show any China's territory in the
West Philippines Sea's Spratlys. China's limit is only until Paracel islands.
The Philippines recorded already 6 invasions by China to the West Philippine Sea
as of June 16, 2011.]
"We are just naming those areas that we consider and are indisputably
considered ours, and those are the maritime areas that includes Luzon Sea, the
waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and also
Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag Shoal)," he added.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said on Thursday that the
Philippines' "renaming" of the South China Sea would not affect China's
sovereignty over Nansha (Spratlys) Islands and Panatag Shoal, which the Chinese
call Huangyan Island.
Lei said the name South China Sea has long been universally recognized and
widely accepted by international organizations such as the UN.

[PHOTO -Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario: "Since the
freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce in the West Philippine Sea are of
great importance to many nations, all should consider what China is endeavoring
to do in the Scarborough Shoal in order to pursue its so-called full sovereign
rights over the entire West Philippine Sea on the basis of a nine-dash line
claim, using a historical record that's clearly baseless,"]

US lawmakers have accused China of bullying its neighbors to press its
territorial claims in the South China Sea.
"Maybe that is their perception that the actions of some claimants in the
West Philippine Sea have been too aggressive that they would perceive it as
bullying," Hernandez said. "Just to be certain, the nine-dash line claim of
China is considered as an excessive claim and has no basis in international law,
so that's the reason why we continue to reiterate that Bajo de Masinloc and also
the KIG are our sovereign territory," he said.
China announced on Wednesday that it would mark up protected zones for its
territorial sea base points in a move to "ensure its maritime interests."
President Aquino on Sept. 5 issued Administrative Order 29 directing the
National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) to "produce and
publish charts and maps of the Philippines reflecting the West Philippine Sea."

Aquino, through AO 29, also directed the Department of Education, the
Commission on Higher Education and state universities "to issue circulars
requiring the use of said official Philippine maps in relevant subjects,
researches and instructional materials, such as, among others, textbooks, and
audio-visual presentations."


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




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