The Threat

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China was a signatory and had ratified the UNCLOS. However, its actuations and policy direction was substantially a departure ftom the UNCLOS provisions. In particular, China had refused to participate in the Hague arbitration initiated by the Philippines and dishonored the subsequent ruling that declared its claim over the whole of South China sea as illegal and baseless. The irony is that China has not withdrawn from UNCLOS. The probable reason is that China still need and will use the other provision of UNCLOS to consolidate and solidify its claim, specifically the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone clause/s. If China will succeed in dissecting the West Philippine Sea from the Scarborough Shoal to Ayungin Reef,  additional reclamation for new artificial islands can be made. And from these artificial islands it will declare a 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone base on UNCLOS, practically eating away the Philippine exclusive economic zone which may include oil and gas rich Recto bank and Palawan. The potential or impending loss of the enormous resources at West Philippine Sea, that rightfully belongs to the Philippines was never highlighted or given prominence. The citizen of the Philippines and that of Palawan, Zambales and Pangasinan must know that the threat is real and serious, and will happen, unless expeditious actions are taken to repel China.

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