Mahigit 200 metric tons ng isda ang nakuha ng Pilipinas mula sa West Philippine Sea noong nakaraang taon. Bukod sa umaapaw sa yamang dagat ang parteng ito ng karagatan, may ibang pakay pa raw rito ang bansang China, ayon sa isang eksperto. Ano kaya ito at bakit mahalaga ang pagtindig natin para sa West Philippine Sea? Here’s what you need to know.
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00:00Let's go to the West Philippine Sea.
00:11This is based on the 2016 Hague Ruling, which states that China has no legal basis in occupying
00:16the so-called territory.
00:17But despite this, China's clashes with our countrymen are one after another.
00:24Why is it important for the Philippines to fight the West Philippine Sea?
00:28I'm Ewe Morianga, and here's what you need to know.
00:36What is in this part of the ocean, and why is it being fought by the countries?
00:41First, this part of the Philippines is drowning in the sea.
00:46Last year, more than 200 metric tons of fish were caught by the Philippines from the West
00:51Philippine Sea.
00:52It is also believed that there is a large reserve of oil and natural gas in this part of the
00:57ocean.
00:58That's why not only China and the Philippines are interested in this part of the ocean.
01:02Aside from these parts of the ocean, it seems that China has other interests, according
01:07to an expert.
01:08I think the South China Sea is important to China because it is their national security.
01:15So if we put ourselves in the hands of the Chinese government, in the South China Sea,
01:21I need to dominate this part of the ocean because if I don't, I won't be able to protect myself.
01:28Because they think that they will be surrounded by possible enemies, not friends.
01:33Because these are the allies of the United States.
01:36Almost 90% of the entire South China Sea is within the nine-dash line of China.
01:42This includes 80% of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in the West Philippine
01:47Sea.
01:48Historic rights is what China holds in their claim.
01:51It is based on the 11-dash line map that was issued in 1947.
01:56In 1952, it was reduced by two lines in the part of Vietnam as China's support for
02:03this country.
02:04In 2023, it became 10-dash line on the new map issued by China.
02:10They added a line near the territory of Taiwan.
02:14Speaking of maps, here is the oldest map of the Philippines, the Murillo-Belar de Map
02:20back in 1734.
02:21This part can be seen as the Panakot or what is now called Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough
02:27Shoal.
02:28In the lower part of it, you can read Los Bajos de Paragua.
02:33The Shoals is the meaning of Los Bajos and Paragua is the Spanish name of Palawan.
02:39This part is now known as Spratlys.
02:42This map was used in the case that the Philippines filed against China in 2013 in the Permanent
02:48Court of Arbitration or Courting by the Sea Talkers.
02:52In July 2016, the Philippines appealed based on the United Nations Convention on the Law
02:59of the Sea or UNCLOS.
03:01This is the agreement of the countries on the sea and the resources here.
03:06The Philippines and China are both signed here.
03:09It is stated in the decision that there is no basis for China to acquire part of the South
03:14China Sea using the 9-line claim.
03:17But it was not recognized by China, so they continued their activities in the South China
03:22Sea, including the construction of military bays in the West Philippine Sea and the harassment
03:27of Filipino sailors and soldiers.
03:30The use of military-grade laser, water cannon, and bombing of Philippine ships.
03:43At that time, the Chinese Coast Guard's attack against our forces in the West Philippine
03:48Sea was just like that.
03:49But this June 17, they became more violent.
03:54It resulted in an encounter where one of our soldiers was cut off his finger.
03:59We can say that so far, this is the hottest encounter between the forces of China and
04:07the Philippines because we have wounded soldiers, first of all.
04:13Second, there was also an encounter where the Chinese Coast Guard attacked the vessels
04:21of the Philippines.
04:24If you think about it, the strength of China's forces is more than what they can do.
04:29But why do they also seem to be limited?
04:32For military strategists, this is called a gray zone because it's not black, it's not
04:39white, it's in the middle.
04:41We can't call it an act that will start a war, but we can't call it very peaceful.
04:50China's strategy in the South China Sea has been like this for a long time.
04:54There are tactics that do not invoke international law and violations of sovereignty.
05:05I think China also doesn't want them to be the target of their anger.
05:12With the increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, it is possible that it will return to war.
05:17We cannot remove the possibility of war.
05:21If we look at the world today, there are two wars happening in Ukraine and Palestine,
05:27in Gaza.
05:28Our world is not totally without war because it is part of the history of international
05:36relations, international politics.
05:38So every country should be ready here.
05:41That's the point of national security.
05:43We cannot hope that there will be no war.
05:46You have to be ready for the worst scenario.
05:48And that's the worst scenario.
05:49If we ask our armed forces, is the government ready for war?
05:54The obvious answer is yes.
05:56That's why we have armed forces.
05:58We are not like other countries that have already removed their military.
06:02Our military continues to be existing.
06:05If we look at whether our society is ready, that's a different question.
06:09Because there are countries that are ready.
06:11Korea, for example.
06:12Israel, for example.
06:13Israel is in a permanent state of emergency.
06:16While Korea's military service is mandated.
06:20It means the readiness of their citizens.
06:25Although only men have mandatory military service requirements.
06:31In the last phase of President Bongbong Marcos, he condemned the West Philippine Sea.
06:41Why is it important for us to defend the West Philippine Sea?
06:45I think it's important because our country's credibility is at stake.
06:49Because if we think about it, we are the only country that violated the international court in China.
06:54No other country has done that.
06:56Because it's important to know that other countries have done that.
07:02But we are the only country that violated the international court in China.
07:07Because it's also important for other countries to know,
07:11even if they are strong, that the Philippines does not give up.
07:15It does not give up.
07:17It does whatever it says.
07:20It's not just words.
07:21It also has actions.