Jamaine Punzalan

Fishermen join the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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Katrina Domingo

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/178306272050420240516-atin-ito-wps-MT-52.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fishermen join the second Atin Ito-led civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – The Philippines’ fight to uphold its rights in the West Philippine Sea is a long battle”that may not be resolved within the current generation, making it crucial for young Filipinos to understand and defend the country’s maritime entitlements, a National Maritime Council (NMC) official said Friday.</p><p>The remarks came days before the Philippines marked the 10th anniversary of the landmark <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/16/read-arbitral-courts-ruling-on-philippines-vs-china">July 12, 2016 arbitral ruling</a> that invalidated China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” claim over most of the South China Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/16/intl-court-backs-ph-on-dispute-vs-china">Int&#x27;l court backs PH on dispute vs China </a></div><p>Speaking on state-run PTV, NMC Undersecretary Alexander Lopez likened the country’s campaign to uphold international law to a marathon rather than a sprint.</p><p>“Mahabaang laban ito. Even in our lifetime we may not see the resolution of it, but our youth, the generations following us will inherit kaya dapat maunawaan ng kabataan kung ano ang kahalagahan ng West Philippine Sea,” Lopez said. </p><p>He urged Filipinos to commemorate the arbitration victory while continuing to assert the country’s rights “not because we seek conflict, but because it is the right thing to do for our nation and future generations.”</p><p>“Hindi ito madali. Nangangailangan ito ng mahabang pasensya, tibay ng loob at higit sa lahat, tunay na pagmamahal sa bayan,” Lopez added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/teodoro-shrugs-off-chinese-criticism-says-beijing-should-look-in-the-mirror-2200">Teodoro shrugs off Chinese criticism, says Beijing should ‘look in the mirror’</a></div><p>Lopez said the Philippines’ biggest achievement was obtaining “legal clarity” through the arbitral ruling, which affirmed the country’s maritime rights under the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/belgium-reaffirms-commitment-to-unclos-ahead-of-2016-arbitral-ruling-anniv-1253">United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)</a> and gained broad support from the international community.</p><p>Still, Lopez acknowledged that enforcing the ruling remains the country’s biggest challenge as it continues to face a militarily stronger China in disputed waters.</p><p>China has repeatedly rejected the 2016 ruling and continues to assert claims over nearly the entire South China Sea despite the tribunal’s decision.</p><p>“Assertive but not provocative. Iiwas tayo [sa China] pero babalik at babalik tayo,” Lopez said.</p><p>“Kung hahayaan natin na balewalain ang international law like the UNCLOS sa ating region, hihina ang pandaigdigang sistema at kalakaran, regional security and the flow of trade in our region,” Lopez added.</p><p>Maritime confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels have become more frequent in recent years as Manila continues to conduct resupply missions and patrols within its exclusive economic zone while Beijing expands its coast guard and maritime militia presence.</p><p>Lopez said the government is crafting additional national policies to strengthen the country’s unified approach in asserting its maritime rights, although he did not elaborate.</p><p>He saidi the dispute extends beyond the Philippines, warning that failure to uphold international law could undermine regional security and global trade.</p><p>“Ang issue sa West Philippine Sea ay hindi lang laban ng Pilipinas. Ito ay laban para sa kaayusan ng buong mundo,” he said. </p><p>The Philippines will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling on July 12.</p><p>Under incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has regained its footing in pushing back against Chinese coast guard ships and maritime militia vessels while <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/6/25/southeast-asia-boost-defense-ties-but-avoids-firm-alliances-0908">forging closer ties</a> with other countries that have also admonished China’s expansionist agenda beyond its maritime boundaries.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/29/-no-rift-between-ph-china-despite-beijing-s-sanctions-rhetoric-vs-teodoro-palace-1533">&#x27;No rift&#x27; between PH, China despite Beijing&#x27;s sanctions, rhetoric vs Teodoro: Palace</a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/29/4-chinese-vessels-follow-ph-us-maritime-exercise-near-bajo-de-masinloc-0732"></a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/29/4-chinese-vessels-follow-ph-us-maritime-exercise-near-bajo-de-masinloc-0732">4 Chinese vessels follow PH-US maritime exercise near Bajo de Masinloc</a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/29/ph-resumes-talks-raises-concern-over-china-s-actions-in-west-ph-sea-1011"></a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/29/ph-resumes-talks-raises-concern-over-china-s-actions-in-west-ph-sea-1011">PH raises concern over China’s actions in West PH Sea at Fujian meeting</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/7DxBqSH0jFI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippines’ fight to uphold its rights in the West Philippine Sea is a long battle”that may not be resolved within the current generation, making it crucial for young Filipinos to understand and defend the country’s maritime entitlements, a National Maritime Council (NMC) official said Friday.</p>

The Philippines’ fight to uphold its rights in the West Philippine Sea is a long battle”that may not be resolved within the current generation, making it crucial for young Filipinos to understand and defend the country’s maritime entitlements, a National Maritime Council (NMC) official said Friday.

‘Mahabang laban’: Gov’t says West PH Sea fight will span generations, urges youth to uphold arbitral victory

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‘Mahabang laban’: Gov’t says West PH Sea fight will span generations, urges youth to uphold arbitral victory

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 03, 2026 03:17 PM PHT

Read More:

West Philippine Sea

South China Sea

Philippines

maritime law

international law

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