Locsin calls West Philippine Sea a ‘juvenile’ name

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

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Locsin calls West Philippine Sea a ‘juvenile’ name

Rappler

'That is how we lose territory, by dropping technical colonial names…and renaming them,' says Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr on Saturday, June 15, criticized as “juvenile” the use of the name “West Philippine Sea” to refer to part of the South China Sea that belongs to Filipinos.

“That is how we lose territory, by dropping technical colonial names (what other names pa, without the West we had no standardized names for land and sea) and renaming them; thereby losing the historical association which was the strongest basis of our claims. Shet,” Locsin said in a tweet Saturday.

He added: “We started down that juvenile path of renaming historically named places – like the British imperial name ‘the South China Sea’ to the juvenile ‘West Philippine Sea.’ So? The puddle in my garden during rainy season I can call ‘The Teddy Boy Pond.’ So? That is how we lose.”

The West Philippine Sea became a heated topic again after a Chinese ship sank a Philippine boat in these waters on June 9. (READ: Locsin questions U.S., excuses China over Philippine boat

It was then-president Benigno Aquino III who issued an administrative order (AO) on September 5, 2012, authorizing the use of the name West Philippine Sea.  

Based on Aquino’s order, the name West Philippine Sea covers areas “around, within, and adjacent to” the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands) and Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal). 

“Does it help our cause? It is important that we clarify the portions we claim,” Aquino told reporters back then.

He also sought to make West Philippine Sea an internationally accepted name. 

Aquino ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to submit the AO, along with a revised Philippine map, to the International Hydrographic Organization, the United Nations secretary-general, and the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names.

A major factor in determining international names, according to experts, is common usage. Establishing this takes time, with names having to be widely used in international papers as well. – Rappler.com

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Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He finished MA Journalism in Ateneo and MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email pat.esmaquel@rappler.com