Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday, May 21 reiterated his opposition to China’s repeated assertion of “indisputable sovereignty” over the West Philippine Sea and its warning of action to defend its claims over the country’s maritime assets.

Estrada, in particular, criticized China’s latest statements from its defense ministry asserting sovereignty particularly on Pag-asa Island and Lawak Island, saying these remain under Philippine administration and jurisdiction.

“We will not be cowed. We will not be intimidated. And we will never waver in defending our territorial and maritime sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in areas that the arbitral tribunal has already declared as rightfully belonging to the Philippines,” Estrada said in a statement.

“Atin ang West Philippine Sea (The West Philippine Sea is ours). Our right to develop and improve our islands in the Kalayaan Island Group is legitimate, lawful, and non-negotiable,” he stressed.

Estrada said he firmly stands with the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in defending the country’s sovereign rights and advancing the welfare of Filipinos living in these territories.

The senator pointed out that the ongoing development and improvement activities in Pag-asa and Lawak islands are not acts of provocation.

“They are legitimate government initiatives intended to strengthen logistical capabilities, improve living conditions, and provide essential support and services to our kababayans residing there. These are acts of nation-building and public service—not aggression,” he said.

He said any claim that these activities are “illegal” is “baseless, unacceptable, and contrary to international law and the 2016 arbitral ruling which invalidated excessive maritime claims that encroach upon Philippine sovereign rights.”

“Hindi tayo matitinag sa pagtatanggol sa ating soberanya sa kabila ng paulit-ulit na panggigipit, pagbabanta, at pagtatangkang maliitin ang ating bansa. Ang soberanya ng Pilipinas ay hindi maaaring sindakin, at lalong hindi maaaring isuko (We will remain steadfast in defending our sovereignty despite repeated pressure, threats, and attempts to belittle our country. Philippine sovereignty cannot be intimidated, and even more so cannot be surrendered),” the lawmaker reiterated.

Earlier, the DND issued a statement criticizing China for asserting sovereignty over both islands, saying these features are part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which the Philippines considers as the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province.

China calls Pag-asa Island Zhongye Dao and is internationally known as Thitu Island, while Lawak Island is called Mahuan Dao by Beijing. It is internationally known as Nanshan Island.