MANILA, Philippines–Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio refuted the claim of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano that Malaysia and Vietnam occupy more islands in the West Philippine Sea than China.
Cayetano said Malaysia and Vietnam have occupied more islands than China. However, China has bigger military installations compared to the two countries.
“Maraming hindi may alam, mas marami po na-occupy ang Malaysia at Vietnam sa West Philippine Sea. Kaso sa China, mas malaki lang sa China. Na meron na ring military installations,” Cayetano said over radio DZMM.
In rebutting Cayetano, Carpio, the West Philippine Sea advocate said Malaysia occupies five features in the West Philippine Sea, Vietnam 21, the Philippines has nine while China has eight including Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal or nine like the Philippines if Sandy Cay is included.
However, Carpio said both Malaysia and Vietnam do not claim any part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“China claims 80 percent of Philippine EEZ in the West Philippine Sea…China is the only country that claims Philippine EEZ in the West Philippine Sea,” Carpio said in a text message.
“Vietnam and Malaysia do not claim any part of Philippine EEZ in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
EEZ is prescribed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It extends to more than 200 nautical miles from a country’s own coastlines. It sets the boundaries to determine the extent of the area in which a country has a special right to explore and use marine and energy resources. /muf