MANILA (UPDATED)— The presence of the “West Philippine Sea” on Google Maps is proof that the international community recognizes the Philippines’ territorial claims in the area, which are backed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a security analyst said.

The portion of the South China Sea west of the Philippines is now labeled by Google Maps as the West Philippine Sea, a quick search on the global mapping platform showed Monday.

“The presence of the West Philippine Sea on Google Maps is a great manifestation that the world recognizes our UNCLOS-backed territorial claims,” Dr. Chester Cabalza, founder and president of the International Development and Security Cooperation, told ABS-CBN News.

“It brings back the same joy and enthusiasm when we won the arbitral award in July 2016,” he added.

The term “West Philippine Sea” was first used in 2011 during the administration of the late president Benigno Aquino III when referring to the maritime areas on the western side of the archipelago that are within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In 2012, the maritime areas on the western side of the nation were named by former President Benigno Aquino III as the West Philippine Sea through his Administrative Order No. 29.

During this time, Manila also initiated an arbitration process to protest Beijing’s claims in almost the entire South China Sea.

Four years later, in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s dash-line claims. However, Beijing continues to ignore the decision.

Since then, there have been frequent clashes between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the waters.

Cabalza also pointed out that Google Maps having a West Philippine Sea entry coincides with preparations for the 40th iteration of the Balikatan exercises between the Philippines and the United States.

“I think tumaon ito sa 40th Balikatan exercises natin. I believe it has something to do with the help of the US as they are still challenging China,” he said.

Beijing claims most of the strategic waterway despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that went against it, and there have been frequent clashes or tense standoffs between Philippine and Chinese vessels.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam also have claims to the waters. —with Agence France-Presse