The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) joins the Filipino people in marking the 10th anniversary of the ruling of the International Arbitral Tribunal, which defined the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

It is fitting for the Filipino people to observe this day, as it marks a victory for the country’s claims of maritime rights in its EEZ (properly named as the West Philippine Sea), within the South China Sea, debunking China’s claims of ownership under its so-called 9-dash line.

The Filipino people stand on strong grounds to assert their rights under the arbitral ruling. The country must continue to engage China in vigorous diplomacy to explore and pursue all possible mutually acceptable terms of cooperation consistent with the arbitral ruling.

The Marcos regime, however, is wasting the arbitral ruling’s potential for peaceful dialogue and practical agreements, by being subservient to US imperial interests. Instead of pursuing diplomacy, it is deepening tensions by allowing the country to be used as springboard for US war preparations and provocations.

Against the Filipino people’s interest and security, the arbitral ruling is now being exploited by US imperialism, in collusion with its lackeys in the Philippine military and defense establishment, to justify building up military forces against China.

Instead of serving the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes, the arbitral ruling is now being made to serve the US strategy of “containing” China’s growth. On US urging, Japan and other US allies have expressed “support” for the arbitral ruling, to justify sending its own military forces, heightening tensions and making peaceful resolution of disputes more difficult.

It is now also being misrepresented as having granted territorial rights to the Philippines in the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) to justify “joint patrols” of US and Philippine coast guard vessels in the area, as well as its continuous build up of naval forces in the South China Sea, and the deployment of troops and missiles in the Philippines.

All these dangerous moves form part of the malign strategy of US imperialism. The Filipino people must reject US claims of being a friend and ally, when it serves only its imperialist interests of imposing its hegemony and provoking war to assert its supremacy.

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