The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday rejected China’s latest assertion of sovereignty over Pag-asa Island and Lawak Island in the West Philippine Sea, insisting the Philippine-held features are part of the Kalayaan Island Group administered by the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is continuing repair, enhancement, and construction projects on Philippine-held features in the West Philippine Sea to support troops and civilian communities stationed there.
AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the military has been upgrading facilities on Pag-asa Island and plans to expand similar projects to other occupied features.
“We have been doing improvements, enhancements, development, repair, and fortification to ensure that these islands will be able to support any deployed troops and the local community, Kalayaan community on Pag-asa Island,” Trinidad said during a press briefing.
In a statement, DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said the islands have long been under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province.
“The legitimate exercise of Philippine authority in these areas, including the conduct of improvement and development activities, is intended to support the welfare, safety, and livelihood of Filipinos residing and working therein,” Andolong said.
The DND also rejected China’s claim of “indisputable sovereignty” over most of the South China Sea through its so-called nine-dash line, saying the assertion has no basis under international law.
The department cited the 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims and ruled there was no legal basis for Beijing’s claim to historic rights within the nine-dash line.
“The Award remains final and legally binding on the parties,” Andolong said.
The DND added that the arbitral tribunal also found China’s large-scale land reclamation and construction activities in the South China Sea caused severe environmental damage and interfered with Philippine sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone.
It said continued interference with lawful Philippine activities, including those near Bajo de Masinloc, undermines regional stability and the rules-based international order.
The DND “remains steadfast in safeguarding Philippine territory, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with international law and in pursuit of a peaceful, stable, and rules-based maritime domain,” Andolong said.
The statement came after Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said China has “indisputable sovereignty” over Pag-asa Island, Lawak Island, and other features occupied by the Philippines.
Jiang said Beijing “firmly opposes construction activities by the Philippine side on all illegally occupied Chinese islands and reefs, including Zhongye Island (Pag-asa Island) and Mahuan Island (Lawak Island).”
Meanwhile, Trinidad He said repairs and upgrades on Pag-asa Island are ongoing and that the military has received funding for the projects.
He stressed that the Philippines has “absolute sovereignty and complete jurisdiction” over the occupied features and does not need approval from any foreign country to undertake development activities there.
“Any repair, construction, enhancement, or development that we do on these features are all within our legal rights. We do not need to seek the permission of any country, more so one that has illegally intruded into and continues to be in our maritime zones,” he said.
The projects are intended to improve conditions for troops and residents stationed on the islands, Trinidad added.
