Published July 13, 2021, 10:50 AM
A leading maritime law expert from the University of the Philippines (UP) believes that the government’s sudden decision to deploy coast guard vessels to patrol the West Philippine Sea is somehow related to next year’s election.
Dr. Jay Batongbacal, Director, University of the Philippines’ Institute for Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UP-IMLOS). (Tapatan Sa Aristocrat)
UP-Institute for Maritime Affairs on Law of the Sea (IMLOS) Director Jay Batongbacal admitted that he was somehow surprised how “radically different” is the government’s current posture as compared to a year or two ago in terms of implementing the 2016 Arbitral Award that rejected China’s excessive nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea.