Marcos citing historical treaties boosts PH territorial claims—Carpio

Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recognition of the 1898 Treaty of Paris and the 1900 Treaty of Washington as the basis for defining Philippine sovereignty reinforces the country’s territorial claims amid international disputes, specifically in the West Philippine Sea, said former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday.

Carpio was referring to Marcos’ keynote address at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)’s Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia’s premiere defense summit, in Singapore.

READ: Marcos arrives in Singapore to speak at Asia’s top defense summit

In his speech, Marcos recognized the two international treaties that served as the basis for the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935.

“The Treaty of Paris between Spain and the United States crystallized our islands into a cohesive whole. The Treaty of Washington clarified [that] the extent of our sovereignty and [our] patrimony [transcends the] lines set by international powers,” Marcos said.

READ: Marcos: PH won’t yield West Philippine Sea; to defend it at all cost

Carpio marked Marcos’ words as the first time a Philippine President categorically stated that while the Philippine territory is defined by the 1898 Treaty of Paris, the 1900 Treaty of Washington also states that Philippine territory “includes all islands of the Philippine archipelago lying outside the lines of the Treaty of Paris.”

“This is factually, legally and historically correct,” noted Carpio in a statement.

According to Carpio, the declaration “corrects” the  “greatest misconception” that Philippine territory is limited to the islands within the Paris Treaty lines.

This, he said, strengthens the country’s territorial integrity, especially in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Marcos rejects China’s claim that PH ruining regional peace

“This finally corrects the greatest misconception in Philippine history that Philippine territory is limited to the islands within the Paris Treaty lines,”

“A watershed moment in our fight to defend our island territories and maritime zones in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.

The Philippines has been embroiled with a territorial dispute with China, after the latter claimed the majority of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, through its so-called nine-dash line.

China with the nine-dash line claims that it owns the entirety of the South China Sea, including portions of the West Philippine Sea.

However, such a claim has been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013.

Despite this, China continues to insist on its claims, continuing its aggression and militarization even in areas of the Philippines’ territory in the West Philippine Sea.