The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday pushed back against China’s objections to ongoing construction and improvement activities on Philippine-held features in the West Philippine Sea, asserting that the projects are lawful and within the country’s sovereign rights.
DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said Pag-asa Island, Lawak Island, and other Philippine-occupied features, are part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which has long been administered by the Philippines under the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.
“The legitimate exercise of Philippine authority in these areas, including the conduct of improvement and development activities, is intended to support the welfare, safety, and livelihood of Filipinos residing and working therein,” Andolong said.
The statement came after Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin claimed that Beijing has “indisputable sovereignty” over Pag-asa Island, Lawak Island, and other features occupied by the Philippines.
China also opposed what it described as Philippine construction activities on “illegally occupied” islands and reefs, while warning that it would take measures to protect its interests in the disputed waters.
Philippine military officials, however, maintained that the country has every legal right to develop facilities within its territory.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, earlier defended the ongoing upgrades, saying the Philippines has “absolute sovereignty and jurisdiction” over the features.
“Any repair, construction, enhancement or development that we do on these features is well within our legal rights. We do not need to seek the permission of any country, more so one that has illegally intruded into and continues to be in our maritime zones,” Trinidad said.
The DND also reiterated that China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea, based on its so-called nine-dash line, have no legal basis under international law.
Andolong pointed to the 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, including areas within the West Philippine Sea.
“The award remains final and legally binding on the parties,” Andolong stressed, noting that both the Philippines and China are signatories to UNCLOS.
The defense department also cited findings from the arbitral tribunal that China’s large-scale reclamation and construction activities in the disputed waters caused severe environmental damage and interfered with the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone.
Andolong warned that continued Chinese interference in lawful Philippine activities, including in areas near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, threatens regional stability and undermines the rules-based international order.
China seized effective control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 following a standoff with Philippine vessels and has since restricted Filipino fishermen from entering the lagoon.
Despite rising tensions, the DND said the Philippines remains committed to defending its territory and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea while pursuing peaceful and rules-based approaches under international law.