Food Security

On 12 July 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) issued a landmark award in The Republic of the Philippines v. The People’s Republic of China. The tribunal held that China’s claims to historic rights within the “nine-dash line” had no lawful effect beyond entitlements available under UNCLOS, and it found multiple Chinese actions unlawful vis-à-vis the Philippines’ rights in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The West Philippine Sea is more than a body of water; it is an inheritance that defines the Filipino relationship with the natural world. Its biodiversity represents millions of years of evolutionary history concentrated within Philippine waters, a patrimony that belongs to the nation and to future generations. The economic value it generates sustains millions of families, while its ecological functions protect coastlines and regulate climate.

The 2016 victory remains a “paper win” in practical terms, it has bolstered the legal standing of Manila, Washington, and other claimants, but it has not re‑opened Panatag Shoal’s waters to Philippine fishermen or turned Recto Bank’s gas reserves into a functioning national resource.

Article by Monne Slyvia Published on March 20, 2026 04:36PM Filipino fisher from Subic, Zambales who regularly travels to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) shared that they are worried that rising fuel prices will further strain their livelihood, adding to the pressure they face from the presence of Chinese vessels in the area. Chinese vessels have long harassed Filipino fishermen in the WPS using loudspeakers for warnings, blocking access to fishing areas, and being shadowed by