The Philippines on Wednesday said US patrols in the South China Sea were necessary to check China’s “illegal, unilateral and expansive” claims in the heavily disputed waterway. “The Philippines reiterates its previous position that the [United States’] freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea are fully consistent with Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the rule of law, of which the Philippines has been a staunch advocate,” Assistant Foreign Secretary Charles Jose, spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), said in a statement. The Unclos is basically a guide for the behavior of countries in the world’s oceans covering all marine activities and providing the definition of maritime zones; the establishment of boundaries; the assignment of duties and responsibilities of nations; as well as a machinery for the settlement of sea disputes.

Andrade, J. I. (2015, October 29). PH supports US patrols in South China Sea. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A17.