Rappler Talk: Calling out lies, half-truths about the West Philippine Sea

2026-02-10 - 10:06

MANILA, Philippines — Since 2026 began, discussions have been aplenty about the West Philippine Sea, triggered by a Chinese embassy in the Philippines that’s turned more brazen in picking fights with Filipino spokespersons, Philippine government agencies, and even elected members of Congress. It’s the latest in China’s efforts to seize narratives surrounding the West Philippine Sea, which is comprised of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and claimed features in the South China Sea. The misinformation and half-truths aren’t coming from just China. Minority senators, led by Rodante Marcoleta, have made the Senate plenary a platform to either question the extent of the West Philippine Sea, or advocate for the Philippines to relinquish its claim over the Kalayaan Group of Islands — although with regard to the latter, the newbie senator has since walked back. To help make sense of the buzz — and the noise — surrounding the country’s entitlements and claims in the West Philippine Sea, Rappler talks with lawyer Jay Batongbacal, a maritime law expert and University of the Philippines College of Law professor. In this episode of Rappler Talk, we’ll talk about what lawmakers like Marcoleta get wrong about territorial claims and maritime entitlements, what these wrong statements mean for the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea, and what he hopes Filipinos remember amid the word war that’s unfolding before Congress and social media. Bookmark this page to catch the interview on Tuesday, February 10. – Rappler.com