Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Tuesday lauded the landmark decision rendered by an international tribunal at The Hague that invalidated China’s massive claims on the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. “The ruling also reaffirms Unclos [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea] as the Constitution for the oceans of our planet, a treaty ratified by 167 states, including China and the Philippines,” the justice said. The ruling applies the principle that “land dominates the sea,” meaning any claim to maritime zones must emanate from land and can extend only to the limits prescribed under the Unclos.

Requejo, R. E., Cruz, M. V., & Ramos-Araneta, M. (2016, July 13). Landmark ruling upholds Unclos as charter of oceans. Manila Standard, p. A2.