An official replica of the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map was donated to the Austrian Embassy Manila by Chairman Mel Velasco Velarde of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and the NOW Group.
The Austrian Embassy is among the Embassies of the EU Member States to the Philippines that expressed its support for the peaceful resolution of disputes and the upholding of international law in the 2023 “Local EU Statement on the Anniversary of the Award rendered in the Arbitration between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China on the South China Sea.”
Chairman Velarde and Ambassador Johann Brieger signed the Deed of Donation and Acceptance at the map turnover ceremony, which took place at the Austrian Embassy in the City of Taguig on July 15, 2024.