West Philippine Sea "China-Philippines Rivalry"
There are many issues today between China and the Philippines regarding the dispute over the West Philippine Sea or also called the South China Sea.
Who really owns these islands?
The Chinese did not claim an island but there were others like Scarborough Shaol and Mischief Reef
What do the Chinese base on why they stand for their islands?
According to the news I found out or heard, they are based on the so-called 9 Dash line.
The 9 dash line is a U shaped form where everything inside it belongs to China whether by sea or air.
What is the basis of our Philippines why they stand for these islands?
Our country is already upheld by law called the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) based on UNCLOS (United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea). The baseline starts at 200 nautical miles from the country. In those 200 nautical miles we have the right to fish in the sea.
I as a Filipino have the right to say that we own that island because it is under 200 nautical miles of our country. And we follow what is in the law. There is a lot of evidence that this is ours if you read it in EEZ and UNCLOS.
What is the effect of this incident on us Filipinos?
Many people have lost their livelihood in fishing. That we have lost the right to fish. And our marine resources are to blame because the Chinese threaten what is ours.
My opinion on this issue as a student is that we should be alert to this news so that we know what is happening in our country. We will fight for what we have because we have upheld and followed the law that is right. China says it belongs to them even to us really. Is it because they have big ships or weapons, they can tell them this. "We may be inferior in terms of force but we have the law." And let us continue to pray to God for the good of all because he alone knows and has the right to everything in the world.
