Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17792481932061779248191388.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"></span></span></span></div><p>The PCG&#x27;s new station in Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea opened on Friday. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</p>MANILA — The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday rejected China’s latest statements on Pag-asa Island and Lawak Island, reiterating that the Philippines has the legal right to develop and improve areas under its jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.<p>In a statement, the DND said Pag-asa Island and Lawak Island are part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which has long been administered by the Philippines under the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.</p><p>The department said development and improvement activities in these areas are intended to support the welfare, safety, and livelihood of Filipinos living and working there.</p><p>The DND also rejected China’s assertion of “indisputable sovereignty” over nearly the entire South China Sea through its so-called nine-dash line, saying such claims lacked legal basis under international law.</p><p>It pointed to the 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which found no legal basis for China’s historical claims in the South China Sea.</p><p>The DND added that the arbitral tribunal found China’s large-scale reclamation and construction activities in the area caused severe damage to the marine environment and unlawfully interfered with Philippine sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).</p><p>“The Department of National Defense remains steadfast in safeguarding Philippine territory, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with international law and in pursuit of a peaceful, stable, and rules-based maritime domain,” the DND said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/9/philippines-unveils-new-coast-guard-command-in-pag-asa-island-1328">Philippines unveils new coast guard command in Pag-asa Island</a></div><p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, maintained that the country has full authority over its occupied features in the West Philippine Sea and will continue enhancing facilities there.</p><p>AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad (Reserve) stressed that the Philippines does not need permission from any country to carry out development projects within areas under its jurisdiction.</p><p>“The Philippines has absolute sovereignty and complete jurisdiction over our nine features in the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday.</p><p>“Any repair, construction, enhancement, or development that we do on these features are all within our legal rights. We do not need to seek the permission of any country,” he added.</p><p>Trinidad said infrastructure work continues on Pag-asa Island and other Philippine-held features to support both military personnel and civilian communities in the area.</p><p>“We have been doing improvements, enhancements, development, repair, and fortification to ensure that these islands will be able to support any deployed troops and the local community,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/pcg-challenges-chinese-research-vessel-off-pag-asa-island-1929">PCG challenges Chinese research vessel off Pag-asa Island</a></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/P18kOwG8GzM?&amp;t=2s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>FEWER CHINESE SHIPS IN WPS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The AFP reported a lower number of monitored Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea from May 12 to 18 compared to the previous week, although Chinese presence remained persistent in key areas.</p><p>AFP data showed 27 Chinese vessels were monitored during the period, consisting of 18 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and nine People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) ships.</p><p>Bajo de Masinloc recorded the highest concentration with eight CCG vessels and six PLA-N ships.</p><p>Ayungin Shoal followed with seven CCG vessels and one PLA-N vessel.</p><p>Two CCG and two PLA-N vessels were monitored near Pag-asa Island, while one CCG vessel was observed in Escoda Shoal.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/4/china-calls-out-ph-jetski-mission-flag-planting-in-west-ph-sea-1040">China says jetski mission, PH flag planting in West PH Sea ‘infringement of territorial sovereignty’</a></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/Rfuh-bIPd7k?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/SvflwCSjqIE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday rejected China’s latest statements on Pag-asa Island and Lawak Island, reiterating that the Philippines has the legal right to develop and improve areas under its jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday rejected China’s latest statements on Pag-asa Island and Lawak Island, reiterating that the Philippines has the legal right to develop and improve areas under its jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.

DND, AFP reject China’s claims, assert sovereignty over West Philippine Sea features

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DND, AFP reject China’s claims, assert sovereignty over West Philippine Sea features

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 20, 2026 11:38 AM PHT

Read More:

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Pag-asa Island

West Philippine Sea

Chinese vessels

RADM Roy Vincent Trinidad

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