Google makes ‘West Philippine Sea’ label more visible on Maps

Metro Manila, Philippines - Google has made the “West Philippine Sea” label more prominent on its mapping platform, drawing praise from Filipino netizens, lawmakers, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

A Google spokesperson told NewsWatch Plus: “The West Philippine Sea has always been labeled on Google Maps. We recently made this label easier to see at additional zoom levels.”

A quick search on Google Maps for Scarborough Shoal now shows the feature lying within the body of water clearly labeled as the West Philippine Sea. The area is a common fishing ground for Filipino fisherfolk and is located within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla welcomed the move, saying it reaffirms the Philippines' sovereign rights under international law.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomes the inclusion of ‘West Philippine Sea’ on Google Maps. This affirms international recognition of the country’s sovereign rights, as upheld by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling under UNCLOS,” Padilla said in a statement.

“As defenders of national sovereignty, the AFP sees this as a valuable contribution to truthful representation and public awareness. The AFP remains resolute in performing our mandate to protect our territory and uphold national integrity,” she added.

The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s sweeping claims over nearly the entire South China Sea and affirmed the Philippines’ rights within its EEZ. Beijing has rejected the ruling.

The West Philippine Sea is the official term used by the Philippine government to refer to the eastern parts of the South China Sea that fall within the Philippines' EEZ, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The label covers areas including the Luzon Sea, the Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratlys, and the waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal.

In 2011, then-President Benigno Aquino III issued Administrative Order No. 29, mandating the use of "West Philippine Sea" in official government maps and communications. The directive aimed to assert Philippine sovereignty amid ongoing maritime disputes, particularly with China.