The National Maritime Council (NMC) said the Philippines’ development efforts on Pag-asa and Lawak Islands in the West Philippine Sea are legitimate exercises of governance aimed at improving the welfare and livelihood of Filipinos in the area.
The statement echoed the Department of National Defense’s rejection of China’s opposition to the country’s infrastructure projects on the islands.
The NMC stressed that the Kalayaan Island Group has long been part of Philippine territory and that the country has the sovereign right to develop the area.
It also said China’s expansive claims under the so-called nine-dash line were already ruled baseless by the 2016 arbitral ruling under UNCLOS.
The council reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to international law, peaceful dispute settlement, and the protection of national interests in the West Philippine Sea.
Source: PhilNews24 | May 25, 2026
