The Philippine government has reiterated its rejection of China's unilateral claim over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) even as Beijing maintained ownership of the entire South China Sea despite an arbitral ruling handed down seven years ago.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza asserted anew the Philippines' position, as based on statements made by two high-level department officials, on the water still contested by China. Citing remarks made by DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, Daza said the findings of 2016 Arbitral Ruling on the South China Sea "are no longer within reach of denial and rebuttal" and "are conclusive as they are indisputable". The ruling rejected China's historical claim over the whole of South China Sea, which was based on its expansive "nine-dash line", and consequently affirmed the Philippines' sovereignty over the WPS, a part of the South China Sea. Daza also reiterated DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s statement on the 7th anniversary of the award last July 12. Lazaro said the ruling "is no longer contestable and is beyond compromise". It is also now part of international law, she added. Lazaro also said it would use as a basis the arbitral award in continuing to uphold the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea. The government's response came as China once again refused to accept the arbitral ruling. Beijing said it was null and void, and that its claim over the WPS was based on its valid nine-dash line. China also said its claim was based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). But when asked which part of UNCLOS makes the claim valid, the Chinese Embassy in Manila gave no response.