West Philippine Sea education bill pushed
Philippine Senator Erwin Tulfo is pushing for the 'West Philippine Sea Education Act' to counter disinformation regarding the country's territorial claims. The bill mandates that the Department of Education train teachers to educate students on the 2016 arbitral ruling and national sovereignty.
Why it matters
This reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea and the Philippine government's efforts to solidify national identity and territorial claims through the education system.
SEN. Erwin Tulfo on Sunday sought the immediate passage of the West Philippine Sea education bill amid claims of Chinese scholars that Batanes is part of China's territory.Tulfo sees the passage of Senate Bill 1625, or the proposed "West Philippine Sea Education Act," which he authored as one of the measures "to repel disinformation about the country's territory."SB 1625 mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to train teachers and educators on WPS Education.Tulfo blasted the claims of sovereignty over Batanes by Chinese scholars during a June 30 symposium, labeling the northern Philippine province a "natural geographical extension" of Taiwan.He noted that the timing of the claims coincided with the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling, which invalidated China's expansive claim in the South China Sea that encroached on the Philippines' exclusive economic zone."Before, they claimed that the West Philippine Sea is theirs; now Batanes is also their territory?
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