Intl dispute settlements can't help solidify illegal Filipino gains
China DailySince President Marcos Jr. came to power, the Philippines has taken provocative actions and created incidents in Huangyan Island, Ren'ai Reef, Tianxian Reef and Xianbin Reef. Despite the changing regional and international landscapes, the central issue of the South China Sea issue remains unchanged—territorial disputes over islands and reefs as well as disputes over maritime delimitation. What is the international arbitration on the South China Sea issue that the Philippines may initiate? As in the case of the unilaterally initiated South China Sea arbitration in 2013, the Philippines may also initiate a new international arbitration against China by invoking the UNCLOS, including Annex VII. If the Philippines once again unilaterally submits the disputes to compulsory arbitration, ignoring that the central issue of the China-Philippines South China Sea disputes is those over territorial sovereignty and the overlapping of maritime rights and interests, it will not only break the consensus it confirmed with China on many occasions and its commitments under the UNCLOS, but also infringe on the legitimate rights that China shall enjoy, as a sovereign state and a State Party to the UNCLOS.