June 19, 2024

The Philippines made a submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on June 14 for determining the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in parts of the South China Sea. Although the details of the application have not been released, it can be inferred from the term "Western Palawan region" mentioned by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs that it covers China's Nansha Islands and the waters in China's jurisdiction, which is a violation of China's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

Manila had been planning the move for a long time to substantiate the award of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration, consolidate its illegal gains and unilateral claims, and continue to make provocative moves in the South China Sea in a bid to gain global support for its illegal acts.

Established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the commission takes into consideration information and other facts on the outer limits of coastal states' continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and accordingly makes recommendations. Since the launch of its formal operations in 1997, the commission has received 94 applications from coastal states for determining the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

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https://enapp.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202406/19/AP66721968a31066523d46fc0b.html