The Rightful Owner of Spratly Islands

One of the problems our nation is facing right now is the claim to the Spratly Islands. As of now, neighboring countries of the Philippines are also claiming ownership of the islands. They are People’s Republic of China, Taiwan (as Republic of China), Malaysia, and Vietnam. Majority of the islands are occupied by the Philippines including Thitu, the second largest island has an airstrip being used by the military and telecommunication is available. Itu Aba, the largest of the islands is occupied by Taiwan.
Compose of 650 islets, reefs, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea now called West Philippine Sea, the Spratly Islands is located in between the Philippines and Vietnam. Coral reefs predominantly structured these islands. Little vegetations provide foods for the wildlife composed mostly of seabirds and sea turtles. The discovery of Camago-Malampaya oil reserves in Palawan has just proven that the islands may contain a rich deposit of oil and natural gas as indicated in the surveys.
Our nation claims the islands on the basis that the islands were discovered by Tomas Cloma, a Filipino citizen. He named the islands, Freedom Islands (Kalayaan) and turned it over to the Philippine Government. Ferdinand Marcos in 1972 declared Kalaayan as a municipality and was incorporated in the Province of Palawan. The second argument used in this claim is the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) which states could claim two hundred miles of jurisdiction beyond its land boundaries. The Spratly Islands as you can see on the map is located just off the coast of Palawan.

On the other hand, China has based their claims on the belief that the islands are in a way part of their history as archeological surveys had shown that relics of their history are found in the islands. They claim to have discovered the islands since 2 BC in the Han Dynasty. They are not occupying any of the islands, but controls several reefs. There are frequent visits of the Chinese Military vessels on the islands.
Taiwan (as Republic of China) who ruled mainland China before they were confined in the island of Taiwan, insists that they have the right to claim as much as the People’s Republic of China. Malaysia claims on the basis that the islands are part of their continental shelf as it is near Sabah, Malaysia. However, Sabah, is being claim also by the Philippines. While according to the Vietnam atlas, the islands are part of their territory and that these has been recorded in the Vietnamese literature and history since 17th century.
Until now, the dispute over these islands is still unsolved prompting United Nations to investigate. Our political leaders are divided in their stand against the claim as many fear that if this dispute is not settled peacefully, the other claimants will resolve to war, which our nation is not ready at all.