Inconsistent statements by Philippine officials on WPS could benefit China —expert

Contradicting statements by Philippine officials regarding the country's claims in the West Philippine Sea could be used by China in the future, a maritime law expert warned on Wednesday.

"We should be consistent in our position that it is ours because China is also unwavering in its position that it is theirs," Prof. Jay Batongbacal, director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"If government officials are saying different things, China will really have the upper hand. Inconsistencies will weaken our position," he added.

This comes after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque claimed that Julian Felipe Reef is outside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea, contrary to the position of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the area is within the Philippines’ EEZ as it is located 175 nautical miles off Bataraza, Palawan.

Batongbacal said "inconsistent statements" on Julian Felipe Reef could be used against the Philippines if a case is filed before an international court.

"When the time comes that countries involved would like to settle the claims before a court, these past statements would be traced by such a tribunal and that would affect our claim. These inconsistent statements will be used as evidence against us," he said.

"This makes us look as if the Philippines was never sure of its claims in the first place," he added.

Roque has since retracted his statement that the Julian Felipe Reef is not a part of the Philippines’ EEZ.

Amid Roque's remark, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said statements on the Duterte administration's foreign policy should only come from the DFA. —KBK, GMA News