Malacañang elated as Google Maps labels West Philippine Sea

Malacañang expressed elation over Google Maps labeling the West Philippine Sea (WPS), with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasizing its significance for the country's maritime claims.

Google Maps has made the WPS label more visible, highlighting the Philippines' maritime entitlements in areas like Scarborough Shoal within its exclusive economic zone.

The National Maritime Council (NMC) welcomed this move, affirming international recognition of the country's sovereign rights in the region and encouraging global consistency in using the term WPS.

Claire Castro noted that Google Maps' use of WPS supports the Philippines' maritime rights under the 1982 United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

Despite China's non-recognition of the 2016 international arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines, Google Maps' inclusion of WPS is seen as a valuable contribution to truthful representation and public awareness.

The term 'West Philippine Sea' was first adopted by the government in 2012 and is widely used to refer to areas of the South China Sea within the Philippines' EEZ, which Beijing also claims almost entirely.