About:
THE
PRIMER is an initiative of independent researchers. The facts and
analyses presented herein represent the authors’ own appreciation of
published material and primary sources that were accessible to them
during the course of the research. They do not represent any position of
the government of the Republic of the Philippines, unless stated
otherwise, nor of the publisher.
The purpose of this Primer is to make available in a single updated
volume a simplified and objective rendering of the historical
background, current conditions, pertinent issues and policy questions
regarding the territorial and maritime disputes in the West Philippine
Sea. It is intended to assist students, researchers, media
practitioners, non-specialist members of the civil service, as well as
the general public, in deepening their understanding of the many
different issues of the West Philippine Sea disputes. The questions and
answers are framed from a Filipino perspective that focuses on
information that the authors considered to be most important and of
interest to citizens of this country, rather than information that may
be highlighted by various foreign authors, organizations or governments.
The contents are not intended as advocacy of any particular position or
policy recommendation.
As proposed by some stakeholders, this updated version includes more
recent developments pertaining to Ayungin Shoal, and the International
Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) arbitration process initiated by
the Philippines with respect to China's 9-dash line claim.
