China’s naming of features in the South China Sea, including islands in the Philippine-held Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), does not matter since names of the geologic features do not determine sovereignty, retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio said. Carpio brought up two years ago China’s naming of features under the United Nations system the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) that determine the names of all of the undersea features beyond the territorial sea. “The names of the geologic features do not determine sovereignty or sovereign rights. It does not matter what name China gives it,” Carpio told “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News last Wednesday night.

Lee-Brago, P. (2020, May 8). Carpio: China's naming of sea features doesn't mean sovereignty. The Philippine Star, p. 7.