THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the inclusion of the “West Philippine Sea” on Google Maps.
In a statement, AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said the inclusion affirms international recognition of the country’s sovereign rights, as upheld by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
“As defenders of national sovereignty, the AFP sees this as a valuable contribution to truthful representation and public awareness,” she said.
“The AFP remains resolute in performing our mandate to protect our territory and uphold national integrity,” Padilla added.
In 2016, the arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s claims within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line, which is over 90 percent of the West Philippine Sea, which is the southern portion of the South China Sea.
China has been insisting on sovereignty in the South China Sea, releasing in August 2023 an updated “official standard map” of its geographical territories, which now includes a 10-dash line.
Chinese forces have resorted to what Philippine officials tagged as “bullying” and harassment of its forces in the West Philippine Sea.
In June, an AFP personnel lost a finger due to the high-speed ramming of the Chinese Coast Guard to a Philippine vessel conducting a routine rotation and resupply (Rore) mission in Ayungin Shoal.
Similar harassment by China also caused damage to Philippine vessels.
During the 47th meeting of the Asean-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea last week, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said these incidents raised the need for a South China Sea Code of Conduct. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)