Ang China at Pilipinas ay may magkaibang pananaw hinggil sa pagmamay-ari ng Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal o Bajo de Masinloc). Ang China ay nag-aangkin ng buong teritoryo, batay sa Nine-Dash Line claim, samantalang ang Pilipinas ay nagmamay-ari rin at nagsusulong ng Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) base sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Ang China ay nagsagawa ng mga aksyon tulad ng pagtatayo ng mga estruktura sa Scarborough Shoal, kahit na ito ay nasa loob ng EEZ ng Pilipinas. Ang isyu sa Scarborough Shoal ay patuloy na pinag-uusapan sa iba't ibang forum at nagiging bahagi ng malawakang usapin ukol sa territorial disputes sa South China Sea.
Does the Arbitral Decision violate our Constitution?
Sabi nila Filipino lang daw ang pwedeng makapangisda sa ating EEZ, yan daw ang nasa Constitution.
Ang Scarbrough Shoal ay within our EEZ.
Pero the Arbitral Decision ruled that Chinese AND Vietnamese fishermen can operate there.
So did the Arbitral Decision violate our Constitution?
China occupies 8 features in the South China Sea, and 4 of them are within our EEZ: Scarborough Shoal, Kenna Reef, Johnson Reef, and Mischief Reef.
Vietnam occupies 21 features in the KIG, and 11 of them are within our EEZ: Namyit Reef, Collins Reef, Allison Reef, Lendao Reef, Malvar Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, Petley Reef, Pigeon/Tennent Reef, Sin Cowe Reef, Sand Cay Reef, and Sin Cowe East Reef.
Malaysia occupies seven in the KIG, all of them within our EEZ: Ardasier Reef, Erica Reef, Mariveles Reef, Pawikan Reef, Swallow Reef, Louise Reef, and Royal Charlotte Reef.
Taiwan occupies one in the KIG, and it’s in our EEZ: Itu Aba Island.
So after China leaves the 4. Ano pong strategy para palaysin ang Vietnam sa 11, ang Malaysia sa 7, and at ang Taiwan sa 1? Ito nagagawa nga mainstream media without educating kung anu ang totoo. Dahil ba binubully tayo? malamang dispute nga db? Indeed many people talk about UNCLOS and the arbitral decision yet they do not fully understand these two. Even government officials proclaim that the islands are ours because of UNCLOS. The convention is for the management of maritime areas not for staking claims on land features. It is therefore wrong to say one island is ours because it is within our EEZ.IMHO, we annexed the islands without any basis in international law. They are not res nullius as China and Vietnam have staked their claims earlier than the Phils. The bust of Cloma on Pagasa island must be torn down. I rest my case.