The Philippines is involved in a number of disputes over territories in lands around the South China Sea (SCS). At the center of our dispute with China is its claim that it owns the entire territory covered by a nine-dash line looping down rom China, around the South China Sea, up the western coast of the Philippines, then sweeping northeast to include Taiwan. We have another dispute with another country, Malaysia, over another territory in the South China Sea, in the big island of Borneo south of Palawan. At the northern tip of Borneo Island is Sabah, part of the Sultanate of Sulu. The Sultanate of Sulu dates back to 1405 when it was founded by Sultan Sharif ul-Hashim who lived in Buansa, Sulu. At its peak, the sultanate ruled over the islands bordering the western peninsula of Mindanao in the east to Palawan, down to the northeastern side of Borneo.

Sabah and our other disputes in SCS. (2020, September 2). Manila Bulletin, p. 4.