The Philippine Navy has dismissed China’s 10-dash line claim over disputed waters, calling it a “joke” designed for entertainment purposes.
According to Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, China’s expanded territorial assertion is baseless, legally unfounded, and beyond normal imagination and understanding.
Trinidad suggested that the intended audience for China’s claim could be the Chinese Communist Party, to reinforce its political narrative, or the Filipino public and the international community.
However, he stressed that no one finds China’s territorial “joke” amusing.
The Philippine Navy official emphasized that international law supports the Philippines’ position, citing the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling and the Philippine Constitution.
He also pointed out that Palawan is indisputably part of the Philippine archipelago, urging caution against foreign powers’ misleading claims.
China expanded its baseless claim in 2023 by adding a 10th dash, extending its coverage to Taiwan’s eastern section.