00:00Let's go to the West Philippine Sea.
00:11This is based on the 2016 Hague Ruling, which states that China has no legal basis in occupying
00:16the so-called territory.
00:17But despite this, China's clashes with our countrymen are one after another.
00:24Why is it important for the Philippines to fight the West Philippine Sea?
00:28I'm Ewe Morianga, and here's what you need to know.
00:36What is in this part of the ocean, and why is it being fought by the countries?
00:41First, this part of the Philippines is drowning in the sea.
00:46Last year, more than 200 metric tons of fish were caught by the Philippines from the West
00:51Philippine Sea.
00:52It is also believed that there is a large reserve of oil and natural gas in this part of the
00:57ocean.
00:58That's why not only China and the Philippines are interested in this part of the ocean.
01:02Aside from these parts of the ocean, it seems that China has other interests, according
01:07to an expert.
01:08I think the South China Sea is important to China because it is their national security.
01:15So if we put ourselves in the hands of the Chinese government, in the South China Sea,
01:21I need to dominate this part of the ocean because if I don't, I won't be able to protect myself.
01:28Because they think that they will be surrounded by possible enemies, not friends.
01:33Because these are the allies of the United States.
01:36Almost 90% of the entire South China Sea is within the nine-dash line of China.
01:42This includes 80% of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in the West Philippine
01:47Sea.
01:48Historic rights is what China holds in their claim.
01:51It is based on the 11-dash line map that was issued in 1947.
01:56In 1952, it was reduced by two lines in the part of Vietnam as China's support for
02:03this country.
02:04In 2023, it became 10-dash line on the new map issued by China.
02:10They added a line near the territory of Taiwan.
02:14Speaking of maps, here is the oldest map of the Philippines, the Murillo-Belar de Map
02:20back in 1734.
02:21This part can be seen as the Panakot or what is now called Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough
02:27Shoal.
02:28In the lower part of it, you can read Los Bajos de Paragua.
02:33The Shoals is the meaning of Los Bajos and Paragua is the Spanish name of Palawan.
02:39This part is now known as Spratlys.
02:42This map was used in the case that the Philippines filed against China in 2013 in the Permanent
02:48Court of Arbitration or Courting by the Sea Talkers.
02:52In July 2016, the Philippines appealed based on the United Nations Convention on the Law
02:59of the Sea or UNCLOS.
03:01This is the agreement of the countries on the sea and the resources here.
03:06The Philippines and China are both signed here.
03:09It is stated in the decision that there is no basis for China to acquire part of the South
03:14China Sea using the 9-line claim.
03:17But it was not recognized by China, so they continued their activities in the South China
03:22Sea, including the construction of military bays in the West Philippine Sea and the harassment
03:27of Filipino sailors and soldiers.
03:30The use of military-grade laser, water cannon, and bombing of Philippine ships.
03:43At that time, the Chinese Coast Guard's attack against our forces in the West Philippine
03:48Sea was just like that.
03:49But this June 17, they became more violent.
03:54It resulted in an encounter where one of our soldiers was cut off his finger.
03:59We can say that so far, this is the hottest encounter between the forces of China and
04:07the Philippines because we have wounded soldiers, first of all.
04:13Second, there was also an encounter where the Chinese Coast Guard attacked the vessels
04:21of the Philippines.
04:24If you think about it, the strength of China's forces is more than what they can do.
04:29But why do they also seem to be limited?
04:32For military strategists, this is called a gray zone because it's not black, it's not
04:39white, it's in the middle.
04:41We can't call it an act that will start a war, but we can't call it very peaceful.
04:50China's strategy in the South China Sea has been like this for a long time.
04:54There are tactics that do not invoke international law and violations of sovereignty.
05:05I think China also doesn't want them to be the target of their anger.
05:12With the increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, it is possible that it will return to war.
05:17We cannot remove the possibility of war.
05:21If we look at the world today, there are two wars happening in Ukraine and Palestine,
05:27in Gaza.
05:28Our world is not totally without war because it is part of the history of international
05:36relations, international politics.
05:38So every country should be ready here.
05:41That's the point of national security.
05:43We cannot hope that there will be no war.
05:46You have to be ready for the worst scenario.
05:48And that's the worst scenario.
05:49If we ask our armed forces, is the government ready for war?
05:54The obvious answer is yes.
05:56That's why we have armed forces.
05:58We are not like other countries that have already removed their military.
06:02Our military continues to be existing.
06:05If we look at whether our society is ready, that's a different question.
06:09Because there are countries that are ready.
06:11Korea, for example.
06:12Israel, for example.
06:13Israel is in a permanent state of emergency.
06:16While Korea's military service is mandated.
06:20It means the readiness of their citizens.
06:25Although only men have mandatory military service requirements.
06:31In the last phase of President Bongbong Marcos, he condemned the West Philippine Sea.
06:41Why is it important for us to defend the West Philippine Sea?
06:45I think it's important because our country's credibility is at stake.
06:49Because if we think about it, we are the only country that violated the international court in China.
06:54No other country has done that.
06:56Because it's important to know that other countries have done that.
07:02But we are the only country that violated the international court in China.
07:07Because it's also important for other countries to know,
07:11even if they are strong, that the Philippines does not give up.
07:15It does not give up.
07:17It does whatever it says.
07:20It's not just words.
07:21It also has actions.
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