SalvaBCMW

#MyPAcct.
#SOLIDMAYWARD

[West Philippine Sea Transparency Group @wpstransparency]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐀𝐖 𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐍

𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐢𝐨 firmly emphasized that the rule of law remains one of the Philippines’ strongest weapons. He stated that the Philippines may not match China’s military strength, the country stands on the side of international law, which is supported by much of the international community.
During the Manila Discussions Series, Justice Carpio said that the Philippines 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 protesting against China over the reported floating structures found in Bajo de Masinloc. According to him, the Philippines must continue to assert its rights and 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 in the face of China’s illegal activities within Philippine territory.
#WestPhilippineSea
#WPSTransparency
#TransparencyInitiatives
#2016Arbitration

[West Philippine Sea Transparency Group @wpstransparency]

𝐁𝐀𝐉𝐎 𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐋𝐎𝐂 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐆'𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄, 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌 𝐎𝐑 𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍 - 𝐈𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐎 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 that China has “𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐭𝐲” over 𝐁𝐚𝐣𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜, arguing that geography, international law, and historical practice support the Philippines’ position.

He noted that the 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 120 𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬’ 200-𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥-𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞, adding that calling it by another name does not alter its location.

He also cited the 2016 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, which found that 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞-𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 and that Chinese government vessels unlawfully prevented Filipino fishermen from accessing the shoal.

#WestPhilippineSea
#BajoDeMasinloc
#WPSTransparency
#PanatagShoal

[The Philippine Star @PhilippineStar]

18,000+-STRONG

The Big Dome erupts to “Gi-neb-ra” chants as Justin Brownlee gives Ginebra to an 89-87 lead with 1:15 to go in Game 5 of the #PBAFinals. | via @bryanulanday

[Inquirer @inquirerdotnet]

INDEPENDENCE DAY PROTEST

LOOK: Members of various patriotic organizations stage a lightning rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City on Friday, June 12. 

Coinciding with the 128th Philippine Independence Day, the demonstration was held to condemn China's ongoing aggression and harassment, as well as the construction of illegal structures within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), particularly in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). [1/2] | via Niño Jesus Orbeta, Philippine Daily Inquirer

[Dr. Minh Tran @MinhDr18]

New Chinese platform at Scarborough Shoal, which China calls a "research platform."

Philippines, this structure sits just 120 nautical miles from your coast.

The possibility that China building another outpost this close to your country is higher than ever.

[Manila Standard @mnlstandardph]

China said its military and coast guard conducted patrols near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on Sunday—a claim the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) immediately disputed, saying it found no evidence of organized military exercises there.

Read more: https://t.co/9wEYwI99r9

[Inquirer @inquirerdotnet]

PH, Vietnam expand cooperation on defense, trade, digital transformation https://t.co/FRX4BZcXNO

[Philstar.com @PhilstarNews]

TIME TO STEP DOWN?

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano should consider stepping down for the good of the chamber, as his combative leadership style appears to be fueling a gridlock that threatens to render the Senate useless, former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel III said yesterday.

While not framed as a demand, Pimentel said Cayetano should resign given the fact that the chamber could no longer accomplish anything under his leadership.

Read: https://t.co/kPPPe8khKN

[Wanjun Xie @xie_wanjun]

At the Asian Security Conference in Singapore, China singled out Japan, criticizing it as a "new type of militarism," to which Defense Minister Koizumi refuted the claim. Koizumi said, "A country possessing a large number of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers calls Japan, which possesses neither, a 'new type of militarism'... Don't you find that strange?"

[NewsWatch Plus PH @newswatchplusph]

TEODORO WELCOMES RENEWED DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH VIETNAM

WATCH: Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro has welcomed the renewal of the Philippines’ defense cooperation agreement with Vietnam.

Teodoro said the two countries have demonstrated that meaningful cooperation can thrive despite their overlapping claims in the South China Sea. | @TristanNodalo

[WAR @warsurv]

🇵🇭🇨🇳🇯🇵 Philippine Defense Minister delivered strong criticism of China at the Shangri La Dialogue, saying Japan is a model citizen of the world while calling China a hegemon.

He also accused Beijing of selectively raising historical issues involving Japan to divert attention from its own conduct.

The remarks stand out as one of the most direct public rebukes of China at Asia’s leading security forum, amid rising tensions across the Indo Pacific region.

[TV Patrol @TVPatrol]

Ayon sa AFP, ang nakita nila malapit sa Bajo de Masinloc ay nakakalat na mga Chinese vessel na walang "monitored organized movement, tactical maneuvers, or joint formations."

Buong ulat: https://t.co/sgDeE7nEhz

[Inquirer @inquirerdotnet]

UPDATE: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announces that the Philippines and Vietnam elevate their relationship to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.

“Today we elevate our ties to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership which will be defined by wider pathways for cooperation, stronger political and defence cooperation, and closer linkages between the Filipino and Vietnamese people," Marcos said during their bilateral meeting. | 📸: MPC pool via @luisacabatoINQ

[BRP Sierra Madre @BRPSierraMadre]

China says these patrols are meant to "safeguard peace and stability."

But many Filipinos are asking a different question:
How can repeated patrols, vessel swarms, harassment of fishermen, dangerous maneuvers, and coercive actions inside the Philippine EEZ be described as promoting peace and stability?

The more these actions occur, the more one message seems to emerge:
✅The goal may not be to defend a position. The goal may be to make Filipinos accept a new reality.
✅A reality where foreign vessels become a permanent presence. ✅A reality where Filipino fishermen think twice before entering waters that support their families. A reality where repeated pressure becomes so common that people stop questioning it.

That is why transparency matters. Because normalization succeeds only when people stop paying attention.

Every patrol. Every incident. Every act of coercion should be examined, documented, and remembered. If these actions are truly lawful and justified, then they should be able to withstand public scrutiny.

So here's the question:
If the activities are legitimate, why is there such a strong effort to convince everyone that they are normal?
🇵🇭 The West Philippine Sea is not a distant issue. It affects livelihoods, security, and the future of generations of Filipinos.
The more we understand what is happening, the harder it becomes for anyone to rewrite reality.
👇 Do you believe these activities contribute to peace and stability—or are they trying to make the unacceptable seem normal?

#BRPSierraMadre #WestPhilippineSea #WPS #AtinIto #TransparencyMatters #ProtectOurWaters

[Philstar.com @PhilstarNews]

Japan's message to China: Check your arsenal before calling us militarist

https://t.co/DFruX8QSg5

[Migrel @Migrel4]

Chinese fleets have poached giant clams to supply a lucrative black-market carving industry, dragging reinforced propellers across coral ecosystems.
They have wiped out marine habitats & devastated local fish populations on massive scale. @MalayaIrredenta @mrbcyber @WarrenVsCCP

[The Philippine Star @PhilippineStar]

As the country prepares to mark in July the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling on its maritime claim, senior military officials and security experts have warned of escalating “political and informational war” marked by cyberattacks, disinformation and foreign influence operations as China continues its illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive (ICAD) behavior in the West Philippine Sea. https://t.co/S0gZBj5HCy | via @onenewsph

[Isabella Anderson @IsabellaAn67]

Meanwhile, the "peaceful rise" of China on display!

[Nguyen Ho @NguyenHo1096438]

Anyone can see which vessel deliberately altered course and rammed the Filipino ship.

There was more than enough room for Chinese vessel to navigate safely, so why intentionally collide with a Filipino vessel unless provocation was the goal?
https://t.co/kS1obuZpMZ

[Jay Tarriela @jaytaryela]

Five posts in a single day from the Chinese Embassy? That alone tells the world who is truly rattled by facts, transparency, and international law.

A state genuinely confident in its legal position does not spend 24 hours flooding social media with repetitive propaganda disguised as legal arguments just to answer one Philippine Coast Guard officer.

THE LAW AND THE FACTS are clear: the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award is final and binding under Article 296 of UNCLOS and Article 11 of Annex VII of UNCLOS.

1. On China’s 2006 Article 298 Declaration. The Embassy keeps invoking China’s 2006 declaration under Article 298 of UNCLOS as if this magically exempted China from all arbitration. It did not.

The Philippines deliberately structured its case to avoid questions of territorial sovereignty and maritime boundary delimitation. The Tribunal carefully examined China’s Article 298 declaration and ruled in its October 2015 Award on Jurisdiction that the Philippine submissions concerned the interpretation and application of UNCLOS — matters fully subject to compulsory dispute settlement under Part XV of the Convention.

UNCLOS is not subject to the CCP’s propaganda system. In fact, the Tribunal even declined jurisdiction over certain matters involving military activities precisely to respect Article 298 and China’s 2006 declaration.

So the claim that the Tribunal “ignored” China’s declaration is simply false. The Tribunal studied it extensively — and still ruled that it had jurisdiction.

2. On the “Nine-Dash Line”

China cannot rewrite UNCLOS by drawing arbitrary dashes on a map.

The Tribunal ruled that China’s so-called “historic rights” claim within the nine-dash line is incompatible with UNCLOS and therefore without legal effect. UNCLOS comprehensively allocates maritime entitlements through territorial seas, Exclusive Economic Zones, and continental shelves. There is no legal basis in UNCLOS for a state to claim almost an entire semi-enclosed sea merely because it wishes to do so.

Changing the terminology from “nine-dash line” to “adjacent waters” does not change the legal reality.

3. On Bajo de Masinloc and Philippine Fishermen

The Tribunal affirmed that Filipino fishermen possess traditional fishing rights at Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), and that China unlawfully interfered with those rights.

What deeply concerns many observers is how Beijing now portrays Filipino fishermen operating near their own coasts as “provocateurs,” while Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels operate thousands of nautical miles from mainland China inside the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone under Article 57 of UNCLOS.

That inversion of reality is precisely why the international community increasingly distrusts Beijing’s narrative.

4. On Transparency

The Philippines releases footage because we have nothing to hide.

If China believes the videos are misleading, then Beijing is free to release complete and unedited footage from its own vessels or even embed independent journalists from credible media entities. Yet time and again, China prefers vague accusations over full transparency.

Facts do not fear sunlight. The uncomfortable truth for Beijing is this: the legal debate ended in 2016. What remains is China’s refusal to comply with a binding ruling issued under a treaty that China itself shaped and ratified.

A country cannot selectively obey UNCLOS only when convenient. International law is not a buffet.

And the irony is difficult to miss: Beijing lectures others about respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity while simultaneously threatening Taiwan daily, harassing Southeast Asian fishermen in their own EEZs, and deploying coercive maritime tactics across the South China Sea.

The world can see the contradiction clearly. No amount of repetition, propaganda, or coordinated social media posts can overturn the plain text of UNCLOS or erase the 2016 Arbitral Award.