24/08/2026
Panghihimasok nila yun. Hindi tayo.
Tayo ang may-ari. Sila ang pumasok sa ating bakuran. Tapos sila ang umaangkin sa ating lupa sa ating sariling teritoryo. Samakatuwid, isa silang squatter.
The People's Republic of China currently controls 8 physical outposts/features inside the West Philippine Sea that fall within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or claimed territory (Kalayaan Island Group).
Under international law (notably the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award under UNCLOS), none of these features are legally classified as "islands" capable of generating standard territorial waters or EEZs—they are low-tide elevations or rocks that China has converted into artificial islands or military outposts.
1. Major Reclaimed Features (Spratlys / Kalayaan Island Group)
Between 2013 and 2016, China heavily dredged and militarized seven submerged or semi-submerged reefs in the Spratlys and lies fully within the Philippine 200-nautical-mile EEZ (~125 nautical miles from Palawan). :
Mischief Reef (Panganiban Reef)
Subi Reef (Zamora Reef)
Fiery Cross Reef (Kagitingan Reef)
Johnson South Reef (Mabini Reef)
Hughes Reef (Mckennan Reef)
Gaven Reefs (Burgos Reefs)
Cuarteron Reef (Calderon Reef)
2. Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc / Panatag Shoal) Location: ~124 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales, Western Luzon.
3. Sandbars / Unvegetated Features
Sandy Cays (Pag-asa Sandbars)
Location: Sandbars located close to Pag-asa (Thitu) Island.
Legal Context (2016 Arbitral Ruling)
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 that:
1. China's "nine-dash line" historical claims have no basis in international law.
2. Features like Mischief Reef and Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin) are low-tide elevations within the Philippine EEZ and cannot be lawfully claimed or built upon by another state without Philippine consent.
3. China’s occupation and artificial construction on these reefs violate Philippine sovereign rights in its EEZ.
