The Department of National Defense (DND) has firmly rejected China’s latest claims over Pag-asa Island and Lawak Island, insisting that both territories are under Philippine jurisdiction and administration.
In a statement, the DND said Pag-asa and Lawak islands are part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which has long been administered by the Philippines as part of the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province.
The department stressed that ongoing development and improvement projects in the islands are legitimate exercises of Philippine authority intended to support the welfare, livelihood, and security of Filipinos living and working there.
The DND also dismissed China’s assertion of “indisputable sovereignty” over nearly the entire South China Sea through its so-called “nine-dash line,” saying the claim has no legal basis under international law.
It cited the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which ruled that China’s sweeping historical claims in the South China Sea were not legally valid.
“The Award remains final and legally binding on the parties,” the DND said.
The department further noted that the arbitral tribunal found China’s massive land reclamation and construction activities in the South China Sea caused severe environmental damage and interfered with the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone.
The DND also raised concerns over continued Chinese interference in lawful Philippine activities, including operations near Bajo de Masinloc, warning that such actions undermine regional stability and the rules-based international order.
Despite the tensions, the DND reiterated its commitment to protecting Philippine territory and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea while pursuing peaceful and rules-based approaches under international law.