Marine scientist says research activities a means to assert PHL claim in South China Sea

CONDUCTING scientific research is a way to assert the Philippines' territorial integrity in the South China Sea, according to a marine scientist, following a recent incident of Chinese aggression within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the disputed waters. "There are other ways on how to assert our rights and our claims in the West Philippine Sea aside from militarization," Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute Deo Florence L. Onda told DZMM TeleRadyo on Sunday. "Because marine scientific research is protected under UNCLOS, we can also send more scientists to do research…