Google Maps officially includes the label “West Philippine Sea” (WPS) amidst the Philippines’ ongoing maritime dispute with China. The Philippine government welcomes this update, seeing it as recognition of its sovereignty over these waters.
In a press briefing on Monday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was elated with the recent development.
The WPS covers areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). These waters are essential for fishing, natural resources, and national security. By using the WPS label, Google Maps highlights the country’s rightful claim of the region. In 2016, an arbitral ruling has dismissed China’s wide-reaching claims in the South China Sea.
Philippine officials see this change as a win, reinforcing the Philippines’ stand on protecting its maritime rights.
This acknowledgment comes in the thick of ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China over disputed areas in the region. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has emphasized peaceful negotiations based on international law.
