Spratlys Archipelago Nautical Question

Here's the question in a nutshell- do the islands belong to the Philippines or to China?

The Sultanate State of Sulu is the legal owner of the Spratlys Archipelago but since the Sultan Kiram turnover his territorial and proprietary rights of the State to the Republic of the Philippines including the North Borneo, Palawan and the Spratlys in 1960’s, then legally it belongs to the Philippines.
Archipelagic Bases
Under the UN International Laws of Sea, despite the opposition of maritime powers, the Philippines and four other states (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Bahamas) got the approval in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea held in Jamaica last December 10, 1982. They were qualified as archipelagic states.
The Spratlys is within Philippines proximity and connected in the Philippines’ archipelago with just few kilometers from the province of Palawan of the Philippines, this boost the claim of the Philippines. Other claimants are not archipelagic states and they are far from beyond the limit of the UNCLOS of 200 nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone. The Philippines as an archipelagic country & within proximity, it counts merit in administering the Spratlys.

China argued that there is no word proximity mentioned in the UNCLOS so they insisted that they could claim the Spratlys. Though there is no “proximity” mentioned, the UNCLOS clearly explain the 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is more clear explanation than proximity. Proximity is just to say near but the measurement of 200 Nautical Miles from the base line of the Philippines is not just synonym to proximity but a clear measurement of distance.
Under the UNCLOS, it guarantees 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive economic Zone which most part of the Spratlys is just within 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines. This is the strongest bases of the Philippines to say “We owned the West Philippines Sea”. Even China is a signatory in these and they even agree with this together with the United Nations.


EDIT: Whoops, I just realized I posted this in the General forum, not the Admiral forum. Never mind!😉

Originally posted by Paul Leggett
Here's the question in a nutshell- do the islands belong to the Philippines or to China?

The Sultanate State of Sulu is the legal owner of the Spratlys Archipelago but since the Sultan Kiram turnover his territorial and proprietary rights of the State to the Republic of the Philippines including the North Borneo, Palawan and the Spratlys in 1960’s, t ...[text shortened]... lized I posted this in the General forum, not the Admiral forum. Never mind!:'(

Originally posted by Paul Leggett
Here's the question in a nutshell- do the islands belong to the Philippines or to China?

The Sultanate State of Sulu is the legal owner of the Spratlys Archipelago but since the Sultan Kiram turnover his territorial and proprietary rights of the State to the Republic of the Philippines including the North Borneo, Palawan and the Spratlys in 1960’s, t ...[text shortened]... lized I posted this in the General forum, not the Admiral forum. Never mind!:'(

Originally posted by Very Rusty
IS this subject an interesting topic?

Originally posted by Kewpie
Could be the most interesting thread in the general forum. 🙂

Originally posted by Paul Leggett
Here's the question in a nutshell- do the islands belong to the Philippines or to China?

The Sultanate State of Sulu is the legal owner of the Spratlys Archipelago but since the Sultan Kiram turnover his territorial and proprietary rights of the State to the Republic of the Philippines including the North Borneo, Palawan and the Spratlys in 1960’s, t ...[text shortened]... ealized I posted this in the General forum, not the Admiral forum. Never mind!😉

Originally posted by Kewpie
Could be the most interesting thread in the general forum. 🙂

Often wondered what happens if the 200-NM distances overlap - who decides the boundary?

Originally posted by Great Big Stees
I think they play a game (of their choice) and the winner gets their 200NM. I believe that's in the UN's Code of Distances section 45243, subsection 3Z, 4th paragraph.

Originally posted by Kewpie
That has to be fairer than anything the politicians could dream up. 🙂

Originally posted by Very Rusty
You had time to edit, but not take it out....Interesting!

IS this subject an interesting topic?

Originally posted by huckleberryhound
I see no reason why you or anyone else should disrespect someone's thread topic.