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Manila's Two-Front Diplomacy

Article by J. Salazar

Published on August 5, 2026 06:00PM



Manila’s latest legal move in the West Philippine Sea underscores its sovereign rights but may test ASEAN unity as code of conduct negotiations continue. ⁵ ¹¹


The Philippines’ recent presentation of its partial submission for an extended continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea has drawn attention from regional analysts and diplomatic observers. While the move is consistent with international law, some experts caution that it could complicate efforts to forge a unified ASEAN position on a code of conduct with China. ¹⁴


Legal basis and submission details


On July 29, 2026, the Philippines formally presented its claim to an extended continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea before the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that the submission was made under Article 76 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which allows coastal states to establish the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, up to a maximum of 350 nautical miles from their baselines. ¹ ² ³ ⁶ ¹²


The submission covers the seabed and subsoil of the West Palawan region, excluding sovereignty over islands or waters. Under UNCLOS, coastal states have sovereign rights over natural resources found on or beneath the continental shelf, including minerals and other nonliving matter, as well as organisms fixed to the seabed or subsoil. ¹ ² ⁷


Rogelio Villanueva Jr., DFA assistant secretary and spokesman for maritime affairs, stated that the submission “was a demonstration of the Philippines’ steadfast commitment to the United Nations Charter” and UNCLOS. He added that it underscored the country’s responsibility to secure a peaceful West Philippine Sea through the rule of law, sustain the livelihoods of Filipinos, foster trade, protect marine biodiversity, and unite coastal and littoral states. ¹ ²


Overlapping claims and regional reactions


The Philippines’ submission has prompted diplomatic protests from Malaysia and Vietnam, both of which have overlapping claims in the West Philippine Sea. In 2024, Malaysia lodged a formal protest, asserting that the Philippines’ identification of its extended continental margin was projected from the baselines of Sabah, a territory over which Kuala Lumpur claims indisputable sovereignty. ² ⁴


Vietnam also filed its own extended continental shelf claim shortly after the Philippines’ move but expressed willingness to discuss mutually beneficial solutions with Manila. ² ⁴


Gary Ador Dionisio, dean of the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde’s School of Diplomacy and Governance, noted that the UN commission’s evaluation process remains ongoing and may take several years, particularly in areas where overlapping claims have been formally raised. He emphasized that the presentation was an important procedural milestone but not yet a final recognition of the Philippine claim. ² ⁴


Implications for ASEAN code of conduct talks


Analysts say the Philippines’ submission is unlikely to derail negotiations on a code of conduct for the West Philippine Sea but could make it harder for ASEAN to agree on a common position. Joanne Lin, a senior fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, told This Week in Asia that while the submission “should not directly derail” code of conduct negotiations, “it highlights the difficulty of forging a common ASEAN position when member states hold overlapping maritime claims and differing legal interests.” ² ⁴ ¹⁰


Lin added that this could complicate consensus on other sensitive code-related issues, particularly its geographical scope, and place a greater burden on the Philippines as ASEAN chair to separate its national position from its regional role and act as an honest broker. ² ⁴


Dionisio stressed the Philippines’ “dual responsibility” as ASEAN chair to “firmly uphold its sovereign rights while maintaining its credibility as an honest broker capable of advancing regional consensus.” He advocated for continued bilateral and trilateral consultations, technical engagement among claimant states, and adherence to UNCLOS mechanisms without prejudicing future maritime boundary negotiations. ² ⁴


Next steps in the UN process


The Philippines’ claim will undergo several steps under the CLCS rules of procedure, including a scientific and technical examination to assess whether it meets Article 76, a formality check, and publication for three months to allow other states to provide comments. Darwin Angeles, a lecturer at the University of the Philippines’ College of Law, said fulfilling these steps was the crucial part, noting that a subcommittee would be formed to prepare recommendations on the claim based on scientific and technical evaluation and the comments of other states. ² ⁴


Given the overlapping claims, the UN commission “may consider this a dispute under UNCLOS and therefore, it may just make a decision on the non-contentious portions in accordance with Rule 46 of the Rules of the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf,” Angeles said. He added that disputing states may raise their respective claims for adjudication by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. ² ⁴ ⁸


Strategic context and regional stability


The Philippines’ move comes a decade after the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that found no legal basis for China’s historic-rights claims in the West Philippine Sea. Beijing has dismissed the ruling as “illegal, null and void,” arguing the tribunal exceeded its jurisdiction. In response to Manila’s UN presentation, Beijing accused the Philippines of “flagrantly infringing” on Chinese sovereignty and undermining regional peace. ² ⁴ ⁹


Despite these tensions, the Philippines continues to pursue its legal rights under UNCLOS while maintaining its role as ASEAN chair. The country’s approach reflects a balance between asserting sovereign rights and fostering regional cooperation, a dual mandate that will be closely watched in the coming months. ² ⁴ ¹³

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Notes:


¹ Inquirer. PH presents WPS seabed claim before UN panel. https://www.inquirer.net/482876/ph-presents-wps-seabed-claim-before-un-panel


² Philstar. PH makes case for West Philippine Sea extended continental shelf claim at UN. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/07/30/2545664/ph-makes-case-west-philippine-sea-extended-continental-shelf-claim-un



⁴ Business Mirror. Law of the seabed: Manila’s calculated strategy in the West Philippine Sea https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/08/04/law-of-the-seabed-manilas-calculated-strategy-in-the-west-philippine-sea


⁵ Thephilbiznews. PH invokes Arbitral Award in new UN bid for seabed rights https://thephilbiznews.com/2026/07/30/ph-invokes-arbitral-award-in-new-un-bid-for-seabed-rights


⁶ Business Mirror. PHL draws new seabed line in West Philippine Sea https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/07/29/phl-draws-new-seabed-line-in-west-philippine-sea


⁷ Manila Bulletin. Philippines asks UN body to consider 2016 arbitral ruling in West Philippine Sea seabed claim https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/31/philippines-asks-un-body-to-consider-2016-arbitral-ruling-in-west-philippine-sea-seabed-claim


⁸ ABSCBN News. PH seeks extended continental shelf in West Philippine Sea. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/30/ph-seeks-extended-continental-shelf-in-west-philippine-sea-1730


⁹ Panay News. A decade after the 2016 West Philippine Sea arbitral award https://www.panaynews.net/a-decade-after-the-2016-west-philippine-sea-arbitral-award


¹⁰ Supreme Court E-Library. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12064 - AN ACT DECLARING THE MARITIME. https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/98027



¹² Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs. Philippine Sovereign Rights and Jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea - Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs. https://imoa.ph/philippine-sovereign-rights-and-jurisdiction-in-the-west-philippine-sea



¹⁴ NewsWatch+. PH asks UN to recognize expanded West Philippine Sea seabed claim. https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/07/30/ph-asks-un-to-recognize-expanded-west-philippine-sea-seabed-claim

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