Manila claims only part of the South China Sea, but the area it does claim is a core national interest. The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean east of the Philippine archipelago (hence the name), occupying an estimated surface area of 5 million square kilometers (2 × 10 ^ 6 sq mi). AFP photo . The Philippines, including the West Philippine Sea FIGURE 2. The Philippine Sea Plate forms the floor of the sea. Thus understood, the ‘West Philippine Sea’ is to be used only to refer to the area 200 nautical miles (nm) from the archipelagic baselines of the Philippines. The major islands are Luzon in the north, the Visayan Islands in the middle, and Mindanao in the south. Philippine and US marines hold war games in Zambales, a province facing the West Philippine Sea, on October 7, 2016. This is the strongest bases of the Philippines to say “We owned the West Philippines Sea”. Sea lines of communication through the South China Sea… The Kalayaan Island Group FIGURE 3. Sen. The Philippines is set to acquire 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from American biotechnology company Moderna, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Monday.Of these 20 million doses, 10 million will be allocated for the private sector, while the … The Philippines and the West Philippine Sea . PHIBLEX 2017. Win Gatchalian said the lifting of the ban on oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea was a positive development, citing "the dwindling supply … Competing claims in the South China Sea FIGURE 5. Relative distances between Pag-asa Island, Bajo de Masinloc, and surrounding coastlines FIGURE 4. It is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales in the South China Sea and is part of the municipality of Masinloc, Zambales. 130 THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS IN KIG AND BAJO DE MASINLOCGovernance of the West Philippine Sea In 2011, Pres. Location: The Philippines comprises an archipelago of some 7,107 islands located off Southeast Asia, between the South China Sea on the west and the Philippine Sea on the east. The shoal, made up of a triangular chain of rocks and coral reefs, is a fertile fishing ground located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. A more meaningful enforcement of the landmark ruling would be the full exercise of sovereign rights by the Philippines over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a 200-nautical-mile seaward distance from the territorial sea baseline, in the West Philippine Sea. There is no strict timetable for the panel to complete its work, but Philippines has stated that it expected the entire proceedings may take up to 2 or 3 years. Under the UNCLOS, it guarantees 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive economic Zone which most part of the Spratlys is just within 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines.