The Philippines revives Sabah claim by submitting a diplomatic note to the United Nations (UN), reaffirming its sovereignty over North Borneo.
In the note, the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN asserted that the country has never relinquished its sovereignty over Sabah.
It also recalled the Manila Accord dated July 31, 1963, emphasizing the Philippines’ commitment to pursuing its claim under international law and the principle of peaceful dispute resolution.
This move comes in response to Malaysia’s 2024 note verbale, which objected to the Philippines’ submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
The Philippines had earlier invoked its rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), formally requesting an extension of its continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the western Palawan region—a move Malaysia strongly opposed.