The Philippines may be forced to buy missiles and warplanes to protect its national sovereignty if the Arbitral Tribunal of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) says it has no jurisdiction on the complaint lodged by the country against China, Supreme Court Associate c has warned.
In an interview with Esquire Magazine, Carpio said an adverse ruling against the Philippines’ complaint will send the message to the international community that “international law is not there to protect their maritime zones.”
As for the Philippines, Carpio said the government “will be back to square one” in case the UN tribunal decides it has no jurisdiction on the complaint it filed against China’s claim on certain portions of the West Philippine Sea.
Such a ruling, he said, would mean “that the only way we can protect our maritime zones is to buy warships, buy war planes, buy anti-ship missiles. Which means that there will be a naval arms race among coastal countries in the South China Sea.”
Carpio described the worst-case scenario he painted as a “disaster” where no side wins.\