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Philippines renames South China Sea as West Philippine Sea
By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Philippines Bureau Chief
Published: 18:22 June 13, 2011
Gulf News
Manila: President Benigno Aquino has called on Filipinos to rename South China Sea as West Philippine Sea, and Reed Bank as Recto Bank, where China's ship had harassed a Philippine oil exploration vessel, to strengthen the country's claim on the contested areas, a senior official said.
The departments of Foreign Affairs and Defence, including the government-owned weather station, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) have been using "West Philippine Sea" in reference to the body of water faced by western Philippines, said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.
Even Vietnam has called the body of water as East Sea, said Lacierda.
In defence of the plan, Congressman Walden Bello, said to continue using "South China Sea" to refer to the body of water on Philippines' western area is "a misnomer," adding that using the old name is tantamount to honouring China's claim of the contested sea-lane.
The change of name was prompted by science and not by politics, explained Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Undersecretary Graciano Yumul.
Meteorological agencies usually name bodies of water based on their land-orientation, Yumul said, adding that weather reports from PAGASA have been using West Philippine Sea instead of the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, the 71,000 square kilometre Reed Bank, located within the West Philippine Sea will also be called Recto Bank, after former Philippine nationalist, Senator Claro M. Recto, said Lacierda.
"The administration has always asserted that it will dismiss out of hand any claim to what are considered integral parts of Philippine territory, such as the Recto Bank (Reed Bank) in western Palawan," Lacierda said.
The bank is located 250 kilometres from Palawan, in southwestern Philippines, said Lacierda, adding that it is 500 nautical miles from China.
The Philippines has upheld the United Nationals Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which mandates that a country has a claim on territories within 200 nautical miles.
When asked to explain the country's lack of naval power, Lacierda said, "The administration is determined to improve the capabilities of our military and Coast Guard to enable the effective patrol and protection of our national territory and exclusive economic zone."
The Philippines has also raised to the United Nations alleged seven confrontation in four months between Chinese and Filipinos on the contested Spratly Archipelago.
But Chinese ambassador in Manila, Liu Jianchao said the complaints were based in rumours.
He also reiterated China's claim of the entire South China Sea, including West Philippine Sea and the oil-rich Spratly Archipelago.
China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the entire body of water while the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei claim some parts of the Spratly Archipelago that fall on their boundaries.
gulfnews : Philippines renames South China Sea as West Philippine Sea
By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Philippines Bureau Chief
Published: 18:22 June 13, 2011
Gulf News
Manila: President Benigno Aquino has called on Filipinos to rename South China Sea as West Philippine Sea, and Reed Bank as Recto Bank, where China's ship had harassed a Philippine oil exploration vessel, to strengthen the country's claim on the contested areas, a senior official said.
The departments of Foreign Affairs and Defence, including the government-owned weather station, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) have been using "West Philippine Sea" in reference to the body of water faced by western Philippines, said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.
Even Vietnam has called the body of water as East Sea, said Lacierda.
In defence of the plan, Congressman Walden Bello, said to continue using "South China Sea" to refer to the body of water on Philippines' western area is "a misnomer," adding that using the old name is tantamount to honouring China's claim of the contested sea-lane.
The change of name was prompted by science and not by politics, explained Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Undersecretary Graciano Yumul.
Meteorological agencies usually name bodies of water based on their land-orientation, Yumul said, adding that weather reports from PAGASA have been using West Philippine Sea instead of the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, the 71,000 square kilometre Reed Bank, located within the West Philippine Sea will also be called Recto Bank, after former Philippine nationalist, Senator Claro M. Recto, said Lacierda.
"The administration has always asserted that it will dismiss out of hand any claim to what are considered integral parts of Philippine territory, such as the Recto Bank (Reed Bank) in western Palawan," Lacierda said.
The bank is located 250 kilometres from Palawan, in southwestern Philippines, said Lacierda, adding that it is 500 nautical miles from China.
The Philippines has upheld the United Nationals Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which mandates that a country has a claim on territories within 200 nautical miles.
When asked to explain the country's lack of naval power, Lacierda said, "The administration is determined to improve the capabilities of our military and Coast Guard to enable the effective patrol and protection of our national territory and exclusive economic zone."
The Philippines has also raised to the United Nations alleged seven confrontation in four months between Chinese and Filipinos on the contested Spratly Archipelago.
But Chinese ambassador in Manila, Liu Jianchao said the complaints were based in rumours.
He also reiterated China's claim of the entire South China Sea, including West Philippine Sea and the oil-rich Spratly Archipelago.
China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the entire body of water while the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei claim some parts of the Spratly Archipelago that fall on their boundaries.
gulfnews : Philippines renames South China Sea as West Philippine Sea
