Philippines to submit ancient map to back up territorial claims

The Philippine government is set this week to submit an ­almost 300-year-old map which it claims shows that ­Huangyan Island is part of Philippine ­territory to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in The Hague, Philippine ­media reported. The Philippines argues that the map, first published in 1734, shows that the nine-dash-line China has been using as proof of its claims over the South ­China Sea is illegitimate. It locates Huangyan ­Island off the shores of the ­Philippines' Luzon ­Island. "The map cannot help the Philippines regarding its ­territorial claims," said Zhuang Guotu, a professor from the Research School for Southeast Asian Studies of Xiamen University, emphasizing the role that the 1898 Spanish-American War plays in this dispute. The US took over Spain's then-colonies including the Philippine islands in 1898, but did not take control of Huangyan Island according to Zhuang. The island was not a part of the Philippines either after the country gained independence in 1946, he added. "It is common to depict surrounding areas on a map. It is for sure the map can not prove that the islands belong to the Philippines," Zhuang claimed. "The tribunal has its own way to reach a judgement … Anyone who knows history or law will see that the map will not help the Philippines," Zhuang argued. China's foreign ministry made no immediate comment as of press time when reached by the Global Times. The Hague tribunal's decision has no binding effect on China, according to China's position paper on jurisdiction in South China Sea arbitration released last year, said Chen Qinghong, a research ­fellow from the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceania Studies under the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. The position paper made it clear that the tribunal "has no jurisdiction over this arbitration, unilaterally initiated by the Philippines … [The arbitration] will not change the history and fact of China's sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and adjacent waters." "China has many more maps and historic records to prove Huangyan Island ­belongs to China," Chen said, responding to the Philippines' use of the ancient map as ­evidence.