West PH Sea: DND rebuts China sovereignty claim over Pag-asa, Lawak islands

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday rejected recent statements from China’s defense ministry asserting sovereignty over features in the West Philippine Sea, including Pag-asa Island and Lawak Island, saying these remain under Philippine administration and jurisdiction under international law.

In a statement, the DND said the features are part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which the Philippines administers as the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province.

“The legitimate exercise of Philippine authority in these areas, including the conduct of improvement and development activities, is intended to support the welfare, safety, and livelihood of Filipinos residing and working therein,” the DND said through spokesperson assistant secretary Arsenio Andolong.

READ: AFP monitors 27 Chinese vessels across key WPS features

Pag-asa Island, which China calls Zhongye Dao and is internationally known as Thitu Island, and Lawak Island, which China calls Mahuan Dao and is internationally known as Nanshan Island, are both under Philippine administration in the  KIG.

The DND response came after China’s Ministry of National Defense reiterated its opposition to Philippine construction activities in the area, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese defense spokesperson Jiang Bin said Beijing “firmly opposes” Philippine construction on islands and reefs in the South China Sea that it claims are “illegally occupied” by the Philippines, adding that China has “indisputable sovereignty” over the Nansha Islands.

READ: Teodoro blasts China over criticism of Japan role in Balikatan exercises

He said China opposes construction activities on “all illegally occupied Chinese islands and reefs, including Zhongye Dao and Mahuan Dao,” and warned Beijing would take “necessary measures” to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

The DND rejected the claims, reiterating that Philippine activities on Pag-asa and Lawak Islands, including infrastructure development, are lawful exercises of state authority.

Beijing continues to assert sweeping claims over nearly the entire South China Sea through its so-called nine-dash line, a position Manila has consistently challenged.

The Philippines has cited the 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which invalidated China’s historic rights claims within the nine-dash line and affirmed aspects of Manila’s maritime entitlements.

The tribunal also found China’s land reclamation and construction activities in the South China Sea caused severe environmental damage and interfered with Philippine sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone.

READ: Lawak: With or without sea row, this WPS island needs protection

Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines West Philippine Sea spokesperson Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, now serving in a reservist capacity, likewise said the Philippines holds “absolute sovereignty and complete jurisdiction” over its occupied features in the West Philippine Sea, including Pag-asa and Lawak islands.

Trinidad said any repair, construction, or development in the area is within Manila’s legal rights and does not require approval from any other state.

He said government projects on the islands are intended to support troops and civilians stationed in the area, with Congress-funded repairs and upgrades already underway in Pag-asa Island.

The DND said it remains committed to upholding international law and maintaining peace and stability in the West Philippine Sea while safeguarding Philippine territory, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction. /dl