The Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island) does belong to China which discovered it and drew it in a map as early as 1279 during the Yuan Dynasty. Chinese fishermen, from both the Mainland and Taiwan, have since used it. As a matter of fact, Guo Shoujing, (the Chinese astronomer, engineer and mathematician who worked under the Mongol ruler, Kublai Khan) performed surveying of the South China Sea, and the surveying point was the Scarborough Shoal which is considered part of the Zhongsha Islands (renamed Huangyan Island in 1983).

By contrast, the "old maps" being relied upon by our Department of Foreign Affairs in its spurious claim on the same territory were drawn up only in 1820, or 541 years after China's. I am surprised that Senator Edgardo Angara - supposedly a renowned lawyer - can claim that a map drawn 5 centuries and 4 decades after, takes precedence over the much earlier map of China.

But I am all the more astonished that Fr. Joaquin Bernas, in his April 22 article in another newspaper, being one of the main framers of the 1987 Constitution, uses the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as his basis to defend the Philippine claim. This, despite and after acknowledging the fact that, indeed, "the Scarborough Shoal is OUTSIDE THE LIMITS set by the Treaty of Paris for Philippine territory." What kind of double-speak is that?

So, what exactly was the territory we declared independence from the US in 1946? Why is it that NONE of our constitutions, past and present, from 1899, 1935, 1943, 1973, 1986 and 1987, include either the Spratlys or the Scarborough Shoal within our declared national territory? Where, or from whom, did we, all of a sudden, acquire title to these? Out of thin air?

In the late 1970s, China organized many scientific expeditions in the Shoal and around that area. In fact, in 1980, a stone marker reading "South China Sea Scientific Expedition" was installed by China on the South Rock. This Chinese marker was removed, without authority, by the Philippines in 1997.

All official maps published by the Philippines until the 1990s excluded both the Spratlys and Scarborough Shoal from its territorial boundaries. Our own Republic Act No. 3046, passed by our Congress and approved in 1961, stopped us from our claim. Yet, we had the temerity to amend this law on March 10, 2009, after 48 long years, to unilaterally include the disputed territories.

But what takes the cake is the fact that China holds three international treaties in support of its claim over the territories in question��namely, the 1898 Treaty of Paris between the US and Spain, the 1900 Treaty of Washington between Spain and the US, and the 1930 Treaty between Great Britain and the US, all limiting Philippine territorial limits to the 118th degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich.

On the other hand, the basis of the Philippine claim is restricted to proximity, relying solely on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. As far as I know, a mere "convention" cannot overturn or supersede a treaty or an agreement reached between colonial powers. And even if it were considered a "law", it cannot be made to take effect retroactively.

Whom are we fooling?

Posted April 28th, 2012 by Manila Standard Today & filed under Opinion.

China is prepared for escalation of Huangyan Island incident

China's Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said China is not optimistic about the situation concerning Huangyan Island, and the country is fully prepared to respond to anything the Philippine side does to escalate the situation.

China again summons Philippine diplomat over Huangyan Island incident

Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying summoned the Charge D'affaires of the Philippine Embassy in China on Monday to lodge a representation over the current incident at Huangyan Island.

China urges Philippines to pair words with actions

China on Monday highlighted remarks made by the Philippine president about de-escalating the situation over Huangyan Island, urging the country to "match its words with deeds."

Philippines' "bully" claim sheer subjective assumption: Chinese spokesman

China said Sunday that the Philippines' allegation that a Chinese ship "bullied" Philippine vessels was sheer subjective assumption.

Philippines' Huangyan Island sovereignty claim "illegal": spokesman

The Philippines' sovereignty claim over Huangyan Island is "illegal" and against basic principles of international relations, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said here Friday.

Manila's resort to foreign intervention in South China Sea set to end in vain

Over the past days, the Philippines has not only made repeated provocative moves over China's Huangyan Island, but attempted to resort to external forces to muddle up the issue.

China's sovereignty over Huangyan Island never impedes "freedom of navigation"

China said on Tuesday that its exercise of sovereignty over the Huangyan Island has never impeded freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.