Ex-Foreign Affairs Official Says Philippines Should Engage In Joint Patrols In West Philippine Sea

Former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines should participate in joint patrols to exercise its right to explore the West Philippine Sea for possible energy resources.

"The dwindling energy resources of our country make it imperative for us to explore and develop our resources in the West Philippine Sea for the sake of the Filipino people," Del Rosario said in a statement as quoted by the Philippine Star.

In 2016, The Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration upheld the Philippines' rights to its exclusive economic zone within the West Philippine Sea. The ruling rejected China's 1940 nine-dash line map in the South China Sea. Several countries have expressed support to the Philippines' sea claims including the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Canada, Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand and Timor Leste.

China rejected the decision of the tribunal and called it "illegal," "null" and "void."

Citing the international ruling, Del Rosario reiterated that the Philippines has the exclusive right to explore the West Philippine Sea for possible energy resources for the benefit of the Filipinos.

"In the context of China's unlawful claims in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines can lawfully and should engage in joint patrols with its allies, like the United States, Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom so that the Philippines can protect its right to explore, develop and utilize the resources of the West Philippine Sea," he said.

"Given Chinese aggressions, the successful development and utilization of energy resources in the West Philippine Sea would be a remarkable legacy of the President of our country," he added.

Del Rosario was foreign affairs secretary during the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III when the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) tribunal recognized the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the area referred to as the West Philippine Sea and rejected China's claims on nearly all of the South China Sea.

Earlier this month, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is currently crafting guidelines on the conduct of maritime activities in the West Philippine Sea including joint patrols with the country's allies. The announcement came following a meeting with senior officials from the United States, Australia and Japan in recent weeks.