What are the different claims of the Philippines?

The Philippines claims the northeastern section of the Spratly Islands as the
Kalayaan Island Group, in addition to the Scarborough Shoal, which it calls
the Bajo de Masinloc. Malaysia claims part of the Kalayaan Island, while
China and Taiwan claim the entirety of the island group. China and Taiwan
also claim the Scarborough Shoal, which is currently patrolled by Chinese
maritime law enforcement vessels. In addition, the body of water enclosed
within the nine-dash line promulgated by China and Taiwan overlaps with the
Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

HISTORICAL/LEGAL BASIS OF CLAIMS

The Philippines claims the Kalayaan Island Group on the assumption that
after Japan renounced its title to the islands in the San Francisco Treaty of
Peace of 1951, they reverted to being terra nullius because title was not
explicitly passed to another state. Therefore, when a Filipino explorer named
Tomas Cloma declared ownership over 33 maritime features in the Spratly
Islands in 1956, no other country had a valid claim to them. In 1978, the
administration of President Ferdinand Marco issued a decree that listed three
bases for the Philippines’ legitimate rights to the territory: contiguity with the
Philippine archipelago, historical title, and the lapsing of others’ claims.
Following the passage in March 2009 of a legislative act to bring the
Philippines’ baselines in conformity with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law
of the Sea, the Philippines’ claim to territorial waters around the maritime
features of the Kalayaan Island Group appears to have been restricted to
using the low-water baseline, therefore precluding the treatment of the islands
as an archipelagic group.

The Philippines claims that title to Scarborough Shoal passed from Spain to
the United States in 1898 along with all other Spanish maritime features
surrounding the Philippines archipelago. Following independence from the
United States, the Philippines inherited title to the Scarborough Shoal.
1734 Murillo Velarde Map

The Murillo Velarde maps have been instrumental in

Philippine efforts to assert territorial rights over parts
of the South China Sea. The maps, along with 270
others, were used in international arbitration to refute
China's claim of historic suzerainty over the entire South
China Sea.

As the country’s first scientific map, the Murillo Velarde

Map is an important artifact. It is evidence of the
country’s historic rights, and a source of narrative for the
youth to love the country. In many ways, it’s an
embodiment of the Filipinos’ material being as a nation.

Designed by Fr. Murillo Velarde, a Jesuit priest, in 1734,

it was the most comprehensive map of the archipelago at
the time.

But for close to 300 years, the map was in possession of

an English aristocrat. Until it came home to the Philippines three years ago—when a private
citizen won it at an auction and decided it was time to bring back this treasure to Philippine
shores. 

The map was formally donated and turned over to the government, under the care of the National
Museum. In 2019, it sold for 46.72 million pesos in an auction to an undisclosed buyer.

The map is of utmost value, primarily because it shows that Panacot (Scarborough Shoal) and
Spratlys (named there as Los Bajos de Paragua) are shown to be part of the Philippines. With
many nations staking claim to the aforementioned islands, the Velarde Map is a significant
weapon.

The map is so accurate and detailed that historian often refers to it as the “Mother of all
Philippine Maps.”

Officially called the Carta hydrographica y chorographica de las Islas Filipinas, the map

depicts a “high-quality, advanced and inclusive way of life of people in the archipelago—
Filipino men and women working in the farm that represents self-reliance, family unity and
sustainable livelihood; showing Armenian, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Moguls freely
interacting with the ‘indios’.”

Many of the names of the 900 cities and towns identified in the map remain the same. Markers
for mountains, seas, and lakes are surprisingly accurate. A true Filipino treasure.