Senators Advocate for Continued Use of ‘West Philippine Sea’ Amid Proposed ‘Sea of Asia’ Renaming

Manila — A proposal to rename the “West Philippine Sea” as the “Sea of Asia” faced resistance from multiple senators, who emphasize the importance of retaining the current name for its implications on territorial rights.

According to Philippines News Agency, the term ‘West Philippine Sea’ reinforces the Philippines’ stance on the disputed territory, particularly in light of the 2016 Arbitral Ruling which affirmed the Philippines’ rights over the area.

Cayetano, who served as the Foreign Affairs Secretary from 2017 to 2018, recalled that he consistently used the term ‘West Philippine Sea’ in dialogues with world leaders and opinion-makers. He noted that a former American Secretary of State had even expressed agreement with the usage of the term. While acknowledging that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s proposal for the name change has some merit, Cayetano stressed that sticking to the ‘West Philippine Sea’ is crucial for the Philippines’ geopolitical position.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada also voiced support for retaining the term ‘West Philippine Sea’ as a geopolitical designation of the Philippine government, highlighting its importance for the areas within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Estrada referred to the ruling by the Hague-based UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration, which ruled overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines, declaring China’s claims as unlawful.

Senator Grace Poe stated that she would rely on experts to assess the name change proposal but emphasized that any initiative must not compromise the country’s territorial claims. “We must preserve our rights to the Philippines’ EEZ,” Poe said.

Remulla, who is considering the use of the term ‘Sea of Asia’ in a planned environmental case against China, views the renaming as a strategy aimed at making the case more relevant to the international community. However, the sentiment among the senators suggests a strong preference for maintaining the name ‘West Philippine Sea’ as a means of asserting the Philippines’ territorial rights.