President Benigno Aquino III's order naming the western side of the Philippine archipelago "West Philippine Sea" provides Philippine officials and the mass media a formal basis to call it by that name, as they have been doing so since the Philippine-Chinese naval standoff on Scarborough Shoal began earlier this year. But it remains to be seen how Manila would enforce its sovereign jurisdiction, or how the name would gain traction in the community of nations.

Tatad, F. (2012, September 17). Will the world recognize and respect the "West Philippine Sea"?. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A5.