Phl slams China's sea fiction

The Department of National Defense on Friday asserted anew the Philippines' "unassailable sovereignty" over its national territory, including the West Philippine Sea, and categorically rejected China’s territorial claims as “baseless” and “self-serving.”

In a statement, the DND declared that Philippine territory is "not a matter of negotiation or reinterpretation," emphasizing its basis in historical treaties and international law.

“Let there be no mistake. The territory of the Republic of the Philippines is not a matter of negotiation or reinterpretation. It is an indivisible whole, defined by incontrovertible historical facts and enshrined in international law,” the statement read.

“We will not be swayed by baseless narratives or coercive tactics,” it added.

The DND also cited the 1898 Treaty of Paris and the 1900 Treaty of Washington as the foundational documents that established Philippine territorial integrity, including maritime features such as Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and the Kalayaan Island Group (part of the Spratly Islands).

The DND refuted China’s narrative that the Philippines is a “late claimant,” calling it “unadulterated fiction, self-serving and lamely designed to legitimize its expansionist agenda.”

“This claim conveniently ignores centuries of legal history and is flatly contradicted by official maps and legal documents that predate the People's Republic of China itself. More damningly, China is bound by its own words,” the DND stressed.

“In its official submissions to the arbitral tribunal in The Hague, China made a judicial admission by acknowledging the Treaty of Paris and Treaty of Washington as part of the legal instruments governing Philippine territory,” the DND pointed out, arguing that Beijing had “legally estopped itself” by validating the treaties it now seeks to discredit.

“In its haste to discredit the Philippines, China legally estopped itself, inadvertently validating the very foundation of our claims. This is not our interpretation; this is a fact of their own making, a damning contradiction that exposes the hollowness of their position before the international community,” it added.

The department further emphasized that the country’s actions in the West Philippine Sea, including naval patrols, the maintenance of outposts, and the protection of Filipino fishermen and communities, are in accordance with both historical sovereignty and legally recognized maritime rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

“The mandate of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines is derived from this unassailable legal and historical clarity, which is further reinforced and affirmed by modern international law,” it said.

The DND said the dual foundation of historical sovereignty and legally recognized maritime rights provides the principled basis for the Philippines’ actions.

“These are not provocations: they are an indissoluble element of sovereignty and the mandate of a State to protect,” the DND emphasized. “Every patrol we conduct, every outpost we maintain, and every Filipino we protect in the West Philippine Sea is an exercise of our sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

While reaffirming the Philippines’ preference for peace, the department warned against further aggression and unlawful occupation by foreign powers.

“We do not seek conflict, but we will not shrink from our sacred duty to protect our country. The time for historical revisionism is over,” it said.

The DND called for national unity and resolve in defending Philippine sovereignty in the face of mounting geopolitical tensions in the region.

“The defense of Philippine territory is absolute and non-negotiable. Any and all attempts to illegally occupy, control, or challenge our sovereignty will be met with the unwavering and united resolve of the Filipino people. We will not yield,” it added.