Camille Naredo

West Philippine Sea on Google Maps. Screenshot

Article (news)

West Philippine Sea

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746003469677Palace welcomes inclusion of West Philippine Sea on Google Maps _ ABS-CBN  News.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="West Philippine Sea on Google Maps. Screenshot"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">West Philippine Sea on Google Maps. <em>Screenshot</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Google Maps appears to have removed the “West Philippine Sea” label on the global mapping platform.</p><p>A quick search on the Google app on Wednesday showed that the label is no longer visible on the western section of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).</p><p>The “West Philippine Sea” only appears as a Google Map pin on the app.</p><p>ABS-CBN News has reached out to Google’s public relations firm in the Philippines for comment, but it has yet to respond as of this writing.</p><p>Google recently implemented a change to its Googe Maps information, making the “West Philippine Sea” easier to see on the global mapping platform.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/15/nsc-official-says-west-philippine-sea-label-on-google-maps-a-big-victory-1712">READ: &#x27;West Philippine Sea&#x27; tag on Google Maps a &#x27;big victory&#x27; -- official</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/14/west-philippine-sea-is-now-on-google-maps-1643">READ: West Philippine Sea is now on Google Maps</a></div><p>In a statement sent to ABS-CBN News on April 15, a Google spokesperson said the “West Philippine Sea” was made more visible when zooming in and out of Google Maps, but asserted that the label has always been there.</p><p>“The West Philippine Sea has always been labeled on Google Maps. We recently made this label easier to see at additional zoom levels,” the spokesperson said.</p><p>On April 14, social media was abuzz after users reported that the portion of the South China Sea west of the Philippines has been labeled West Philippine Sea on Google Maps.</p><p>This has been well received by Filipinos.</p><p>A security analyst said the presence of the “West Philippine Sea” on Google Maps is proof that the international community recognizes the Philippines’ territorial claims in the area.</p><p>“The presence of the West Philippine Sea on Google Maps is a great manifestation that the world recognizes our UNCLOS-backed territorial claims,” Dr. Chester Cabalza, founder and president of the International Development and Security Cooperation, told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>“It brings back the same joy and enthusiasm when we won the arbitral award in July 2016,” he added.</p><p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines also welcomed the development, saying it affirms international recognition of the country’s sovereign rights.</p><p>“As defenders of national sovereignty, the AFP sees this as a valuable contribution to truthful representation and public awareness,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said in a statement.</p><p>The term “West Philippine Sea” was first used in 2011 during the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III when referring to the maritime areas on the western side of the archipelago that are within its 200-nautical mile EEZ.</p><p>In 2012, Aquino signed an administrative order formally adopting the term West Philippine Sea. During this time, Manila also initiated an arbitration process to protest Beijing’s claims in almost the entire South China Sea.</p><p>Four years later, in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s dash-line claims. However, Beijing continues to ignore the decision.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HBCFIqquB3M?&amp;ab_channel=ABS-CBNNews&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Google Maps appears to have removed the “West Philippine Sea” label on the global mapping platform.</p>

Google Maps appears to have removed the “West Philippine Sea” label on the global mapping platform.

‘West Philippine Sea’ no longer visible on Google Maps

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‘West Philippine Sea’ no longer visible on Google Maps

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 30, 2025 05:04 PM PHT

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