MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – A cursory scan of world maps reveals that “West Philippine Sea” is non existent. It is an invention of the late Philippine President Noynoy Aquino.
Traditional maps have always identified the waters as “South China Sea,” even in documents relating to the territorial disputes involving China and other Southeast Asian Nations.
It appears that “West Philippine Sea” is an invention of of Aquino when he unilaterally renamed portions of the South China Sea to fit his country’s territorial claims.
Specifically, Administrative Order No. 29, released in 2012 by Aquino officially named the “maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago” as West Philippine Sea.
Is this a case of territorial claim by presidential directive?
MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The Philippines may officially subscribe to the “One-China Policy” but its practical approach is more of neutrality — through its Fruit Diplomacy which it hopes will significantly ease the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
While China sends aircraft and sea vessels in and around the Taiwan Straight to intimidate Taipei government, the Philippines regularly sending imports of banana, mango and durian to BOTH China and Taiwan.
Taiwan regularly monitors Chinese incursions into its ADIZ (air defense identification zone) while the Philippines constantly watches its revenue from its fruit exports.
As Philippine President Bongbong Marcos has said, “we are a friend to all, an enemy to none.”
BEIJING, China (The Adobo Chronicles, HongKong Bureau)- Last year, Nancy Pelosi who was then Speaker of the US House of Representatives visited Taiwan and met with President Tsai Ing-wen. Last April, current Speaker Keven McCarthy did the same. This, of course, angered Beijing.
The visits of the Democrat and Republican legislators prompted China to engage in military exercises across the Taiwan Strait.
Now China is also upset that Philippine Senato Risa Hontiveros visited Taiwan and met with Ing-wen. In protest, China is contemplating in sending more Chinese fishing vessels in the South China Sea, near the Philippines’ territorial waters.
Moral of the story: For every action, there is a corresponding reaction.
The Adobo Chronicles 
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