Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said international naval drills in the West Philippine Sea recognize the Philippines' claims under the 2016 arbitral ruling. He shared this in an ANC interview on April 1, even as China rejects the decision. Carpio pointed out that this falls short of full enforcement due to the Philippines' lack of political will.
In an ANC interview on Wednesday, April 1, Carpio said foreign naval operations in the area are based on the 2016 arbitral ruling. "The US conduct naval drills, they conduct naval drills and they point to the arbitral award," he said.
He added that the ruling prevents China from claiming the 10-dash line as its international boundary, as the US and allies conduct freedom of navigation operations invoking the award. According to Carpio, these actions signify recognition but not complete enforcement, citing the Philippines' inability to develop resources in Reed Bank.
He compared the Philippines to Malaysia and Indonesia, which continue exploration in their exclusive economic zones despite Chinese objections, backed by the US and Australia. "It is not a complete enforcement because we cannot get the gas in Reed Bank because we don't have the political will to send our drill ship there, accompanied by our navy, unlike Malaysia and Indonesia," he explained. The Philippines has refused offers of such support.
The Philippines, the US, and allies regularly hold joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea, including the 14th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity on February 15-16 involving Australia. On March 26, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 111 adopting local names for over 100 features in the Kalayaan Island Group. The area remains a flashpoint for tensions between Chinese and Philippine vessels, though a 2016 tribunal invalidated Beijing's expansive claims.