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On 9th anniversary of PCA ruling, AFP commits to remain steadfast in protecting WPS
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday reaffirmed its commitment to uphold the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and "protect what is rightfully ours" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
"As the protector of the nation's territorial integrity, the AFP remains steadfast in its duty to uphold this ruling through deliberate and sustained action," the AFP said in a statement.
READ | AFP Statement on the 9th Anniversary of the 2016 PCA Ruling#AFPyoucanTRUST#OneAFPOnePhilippines#StrongAFPStrongPhilippines#OurSeasOurRightsOurFuture pic.twitter.com/QWE8xKZhEW — Armed Forces of the Philippines (@TeamAFP) July 11, 2025
"We continue to carry out regular maritime and aerial patrols, enhance our maritime domain awareness, and support the whole-of-nation approach to ensure the security and well-being of our communities, especially our fisherfolk," it said.
"Every operation we conduct in the West Philippine Sea reaffirms our commitment to protect what is rightfully ours. With professionalism, vigilance, and resolve, we will continue to defend our territory, uphold our sovereign rights, and promote peace — always anchored on international law and guided by the interests of the Filipino people," the AFP said.
On June 12, 2016, the PCA based in The Hague, Netherlands issued a ruling on the case filed by the Philippines in January 2013.
The case hinges on the legal status of reefs, rocks and artificial islands in the Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Island group.
Manila's 15-point case critically asks the tribunal to rule on the status of China's so-called "nine-dash line", a boundary that is the basis for its 69-year-old claim to roughly 85 percent of the South China Sea.
The PCA invalidated Beijing's massive claims in South China Sea.
"The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the 'nine-dash line'," the PCA said.
"[Although] two Chinese navigators and fishermen, as well as those of other States, had historically made use of the islands in the South China Sea, there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or their resources," it added. —KG, GMA Integrated News
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