Short summary on the history and developments on the issue on West Philippine Sea and Kalayaan group of Islands

1.  UNCLOS – United Nation Convention
on the Law of the Sea
 KIG – Kalayaan Island Group
 WPS – West Philippine Sea
 SCS – South China Sea
Definition of Terms

2.  The WPS is a part of the SCS that is
closest to the Philippines.
 On Sept. 12 2012, Pres. Aquino III issued
the Administrative Order No. 29, with
Section 1 stating,
“ maritime areas on the west side of
the PHL archipelago are hereby
named as the West Philippine Sea”
The West Philippine Sea

3.  The South China Sea is much broader
expanse of water often describe as a semi-
enclosed sea, bounded by
 China/Taiwan(north),
 PHL(east),
 Viet Nam, Malaysia, Singapore &
Brunei(west)
 Indonesia(south)
The South China Sea

5.  Composed of 50 island
 Incorporated as a municipality of
Palawan in 1978 through the
Presidential Decree No. 1596
Kalayaan Island Group

6.  9 islands are currently occupied by the
Philippine military and civilians ( Lawak
Is; Kota Is; Likas Is; Pag-asa Is; Parola Is;
Panata Is; Patag Is: Rizal Reef and
Ayungin Shoal)
Kalayaan Island Group

8.  Territorial integrity and security
 Food security
 Energy security
 Vital sea lanes of communication
 Economic welfare
Kalayaan Island Group:
Its’ Importance

10.  West Palawan (mid-1960)
 Service Contract System (1973)
 Nido- 1 (1st commercial oil exploration in
1976)
Kalayaan Island Group:
Oil and Gas Exploration

11.  Other discoveries are Cadlao, West
Linapacan, Matinloc, Malampaya(country’s
1st petroleum production facility) and Recto
Bank
Kalayaan Island Group:
Oil and Gas Exploration

13.  Lack of investment
 Poor access to technology
 Bureaucratic Red Tape
 Tensions over the unresolved territorial
and maritime disputes
 Governance
Philippines’ hinders for more
petroleum exploration

14.  Phosphates
 Guano
 Magnesium
 Cobalt
 Nickel
 Molybdenum
 many others
(also in the North Palawan coastal areas)
Kalayaan Island Group:
Mineral- Rich islands

15.  People’s Republic of China ( 7 occupied
islands)
 Taiwan ( 1 occupied island)
 Vietnam (22 occupied islands)
The Territorial Disputes in the
West Philippine Sea

16.  The Philippines ( 9 occupied islands)
 Brunei Darussalam (none)
 Malaysia ( 5 occupied islands)
The Territorial Disputes in the
West Philippine Sea

19.  Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs)
 United States of America’s military
activities
The Territorial Disputes in the
West Philippine Sea

21.  1933, Isabelo de los Reyes proposed the
inclusion of 9 biggest island as a part of
the transition.
History and Development

22.  1937, Interior Sec. Elpidio Quirino filed a
claim on the Philippines’ behalf citing
national defense and geographical
proximity as grounds
History and Development

23.  1946, Foreign affairs Sec. Quirino send a
letter to Gen Douglas McArthur stressing
the PHLs’ interest to KIG
History and Development

24.  1947, Quirino’s successor, Carlos P. Garcia,
demanded that the features be turned over
to the Government
History and Development

25.  1948, Tomas Cloma claimed to have found
the islands unoccupied.
History and Development

26.  1956, Cloma led a 38-day expedition
to KIG.
 1968, Philippines started sending
military troops
History and Development

27. 1971, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos
announced the occupation on
several islands for national security
and to protect the interest of the
state and it’s citizen
History and Development

28. Economic Concerns
Security Concerns
Kalayaan Island Group
during Marcos Administration

29.  1970, Philippine posted troops on Lawak
Island
 1971, Philippine occupied, Kota,Likas,
Pag-asa and Parola
Start of Occupation on KIG

30.  In Pag-asa Is., established weather
station (1979), fishery research unit and
laboratory, runway for logistic support
aircraft, air force unit, naval station and
lighthouse (1993)
Start of Occupation on KIG

32.  Early 1995, China’s occupation on Panganiban
(Mischief) Reef send tension to Manila and
Beijing
Philippines’ battle for territory

33.  May 1995, a standoff happened between
Philippine Navy ship and two Chinese fishing
vessels back-up by a PLA-Navy Frigates
Philippines’ battle for territory

34.  March 2011, Philippine petroleum exploration
vessel was harassed by two Chinese vessel
Philippines’ battle for territory

35.  Signed on August 1995, to relieve the tension
between the two countries
 1998, China’s ‘Fisherman’s Shelters’ turned to a
‘Fortified military garrison’
 Action resulted to renewed security ties to US
military
Joint statement on the South China
Sea and Other Area of Cooperation

39.  Philippine Navy’s BRP Sierra Madre stationed
on Ayungin Shoal
 protest against increased Chinese presence
near Ayungin Shoal in March 2013
Recent Government Action

40. BRP Sierra Madre

43. Thank you!!!

44.  1968, Economic Commission for Asia and the
Far East reported that the South China Sea’s
continental shelf may contain oil and gas
deposits
 Claimants unilaterally drawn maritime
boundaries which is overlapping
 Claimants also deployed troops on various
maritime features
Economic Concerns

45.  Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia began
offshore exploration for petroleum reserves
 1976, after 80 years, oil was discovered in the
offshore Northwest Palawan.
Economic Concerns

46. 1971, Taiwan troops on Ligaw (Itu Aba/
Taiping) island reported to have fired on a boat
carrying Philippine Congressman Ramon Mitra
Security Concerns