Introduction

Tension has been greatly exacerbated by China's sweeping claims in

the South China Sea, which includes the Philippine Sea. China claims
historical claims to most of the South China Sea, which is marked by
their "nine-dash line," which covers around 90% of the water. This
claim crosses over into the territorial waters and exclusive economic
zones (EEZs) of multiple Southeast Asian nations, including the
Philippines.Tension has been greatly exacerbated by China's
sweeping claims in the South China Sea, which includes the
Philippine Sea. China claims historical claims to most of the South
China Sea, which is marked by their "nine-dash line," which covers
around 90% of the water. This claim crosses over into the territorial
waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of multiple Southeast
Asian nations, including the Philippines.

Competing territorial claims to islands, reefs, and marine boundaries

among a number of the region's nations—most notably China, the
Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan Malaysia, and Brunei—are at the heart of
the Philippine Sea dispute.
 The West Philippine Sea is a part of the South China Sea. It is
located to the west of the Philippines, hence the name, and
encompasses the maritime areas that are within the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) and territorial waters of the Philippines,
particularly the waters west of the Philippine archipelago.

Here are some approximate coordinates for the West Philippine Sea:

Latitude: Between approximately 4° N and 20° N

Longitude: Between approximately 115° E and 120° E

Discussion
1) Philippines-China relations have lately been dominated by the
territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, which has escalated
since the naval standoff over the Scarborough Shoal in April 2012 and
aggravated by issues of Chinese illegal occupation, unlawful
establishment of infrastructures, and incidents of incursions and
encroachment within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Bilateral ties took a downturn when the Philippine government filed
an arbitration case against China under the United Na-tional
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in January 2013
challenging the legality of China’s nine-dash line claim over the
contested waters.

2) The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

and other UN procedures for resolving maritime disputes have been
the primary means by which the UN has addressed the West
Philippine Sea issue. In a few different methods, the UN has dealt
with the problem

Arbitral Tribunal Ruling

In a case initiated by the Philippines against China involving their
territorial disputes in the South China Sea, including the West
Philippine Sea, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The
Hague, operating as an arbitral tribunal under UNCLOS, issued a
historic decision in 2016. China's claims based on historical rights
and the Nine-Dash Line were rejected by the tribunal, which found
strongly in favor of the Philippines. The decision made marine rights
and obligations under UNCLOS more clear, highlighting the value of
using rules to settle conflicts.

Calls for Compliance

The Secretary-General and the Security Council, among other UN
entities and representatives, have urged all parties to observe and
abide by international law, including UNCLOS, in the wake of the
arbitral tribunal's decision. The UN has underlined the necessity of
using diplomacy and respect for the law to settle conflicts in a
peaceful manner.

Support for Diplomatic Effort

In an attempt to settle the conflicts in the West Philippine Sea and the
larger South China Sea region, the UN has backed diplomatic
initiatives. This entails fostering communication between states
making claims, advocating actions that boost confidence, and
assisting in multilateral talks meant to arrive at a peaceful and
agreeable settlement.

Promotion of Maritime Security

The UN has emphasized how crucial it is to preserve maritime
security and stability in the South China Sea in order to protect
overflight and freedom of navigation and to guarantee the long-term
sustainable management of marine resources. The UN and its
agencies have supported efforts to improve capacity-building,
confidence-building, and marine cooperation.

3) The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

and other international legal frameworks serve as the main
foundation for the Philippine government's claims to areas of the
West Philippine Sea, which is a portion of the South China Sea. The
following are some salient features of the Philippine government's
stance recent development Some common themes in recent
developments include

Military Activities
A. Numerous parties have reportedly continued to engage in military
operations and forceful conduct. These activities include coast guard
operations, naval patrols, and construction on disputed features
including military sites and artificial islands.

B. It's crucial to prioritize efforts to resolve disputes peacefully and

diplomatically, in accordance with international law. The Philippines,
like other countries, seeks to avoid conflict and pursue stability and
cooperation in the region. While asserting its rights, the Philippines
aims to engage in dialogue, build alliances, and strengthen
mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution. However,
decisions regarding territorial claims and responses to provocations
must consider various factors, including national security, diplomacy,
and the broader geopolitical context.

In response to your inquiry about the propriety of claiming territory

even after a war is provoked, it is imperative that diplomatic and
peaceful means of resolving conflicts be given priority in line with
international law. Like other nations, the Philippines aims to keep the
region stable and cooperative while avoiding confrontation. The
Philippines seeks to advance systems for conflict avoidance and
resolution, forge partnerships, and engage in discussion while
defending its rights. But choices about territorial claims and how to
respond to provocations need to take a number of things into
account, such as diplomacy, national security, and the larger
geopolitical picture.

https://www.scribd.com/document/619844261/West-Philippine-
Sea

https://fsi.gov.ph/philippines-china-relations-beyond-the-territoral-
disputes/