The Philippine government will not need China’s consent for its plan to declare some parts of the West Philippine Sea as marine protected areas, Malacañang said on Monday. “Di ba, he already said that?” Mr. Panelo said in a news conference at the Palace on Monday when asked if the President is keen on declaring some parts of the highly-contested West Philippine Sea as marine protected areas. Asked if the Philippines will need China’s consent for this move, he said: “No…. As far as we are concerned, that’s ours. You don’t have to ask any consent from anyone.”

Balinbin, A. L. (2019, April 30). Palace asserts no need for China consent in marine protected areas declaration in West Philippine Sea. BusinessWorld, p. S1/10.