Politics In The South China Sea
The conflict over the South China Sea has become one of the most intractable issues of the 21st century. This highly contested maritime region is brimming with natural resources, crucial shipping lanes, and overlapping territorial claims from several countries, including The Philippines. It has been subjected to intense international attention for many years and has undoubtedly become a serious geopolitical flashpoint.
At the heart of the controversy lies a disagreement between the sovereign claims of China on the one hand, and the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia on the other. Both sides have been engaged in a drawn-out legal squabble over ownership and rights of access to the potentially energy-rich waters. Equally, various island groups in the South China Sea have become bone of contention, with many countries vying to assert their own sovereignty over them.
The Philippines has a long-standing historical claim to the South China Sea, being the first nation to have discovered the islands. It has also ratified a number of international conventions that grant it exclusive rights to the seabed and waters within its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. As a result, it has argued stridently for its right to exploit the resources in the South China Sea.
In recent years, The Philippines has increasingly linked this claim to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 1990s treaty that governs maritime rights and sets out the conditions for recognition of maritime border zones. Manila has based its claims on the treaty, which grants it the official right to control resource exploitation within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a zone extending 200 miles from its coast.
On the other hand, Beijing also claims to have historical rights in the South China Sea, based on its discovery and control of certain islands in the area. It has, however, done so without ratifying UNCLOS, a claim that has been heavily contested by The Philippines and a number of other nations.
Philippines’ Rights To Exploit Resources
The Philippines has, six times over the last decade, undertaken geophysical surveys in the South China Sea in order to build its case and assert its rights to exploit resources in its exclusive economic zone. These surveys have provided naval and scientific evidence to support its arguments against Beijing’s claims as well as boosting support for its enforcement of its sovereignty in the region.
Equally, The Philippines has relied on the assistance of international judicial bodies, such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to strengthen its arguments over the South China Sea. In 2016, the tribunal sided with The Philippines in its case against China in a landmark ruling. It acknowledged the country’s claim, saying that it has ‘sovereign rights’ over the waters and islands in the South China Sea, as well as the right to exploit resources within its EEZ.
The Philippines has further bolstered its rightful claim over the strategic waters by ratifying various regional agreements, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Declaration on the South China Sea, which recognizes its sovereignty over the area. The declaration provides Manila with the authorization to patrol the waters and protect its exclusive economic zone, as well as providing it the opportunity to cooperate with other regional countries in maintaining peace and security in the region.
Potential Conflict Resolution
A peaceful resolution of the dispute between China and The Philippines over the South China Sea is possible if both countries agree to a mutual settlement based on the rule of law. Both sides should focus on gaining accepted international recognition of the waters as part of their respective EEZs. China could, for instance, ratify UNCLOS and agree to abide by its provisions, including the provisions regarding maritime border zones. The Philippines could also continue to build on its efforts to strengthen its presence in the region and further consolidate its legal case.
In addition, both sides could engage in more de-escalation exercises, as well as cooperate in building joint infrastructure, such as hydrocarbon pipelines, in the waters. This could enable them to share resources and benefit from mutual development projects in other areas of the maritime region.
The Philippines could also continue to pursue its diplomatic efforts to ensure that its historical rights over the South China Sea are respected, both within bilateral and multilateral forums. It has already achieved a degree of success in obtaining U.S., Japanese, and other international support for its stance against China, and this should remain a priority going forward.
Stringent Efforts To Improve Peace And Security
The Philippines should continue to call for restrained behavior from all South China Sea claimants and maintain its commitment to the promotion of peace and stability. It could also strengthen its efforts to promote maritime security cooperation between China and other coastal states. In particular, it could help to facilitate closer partnerships between China and other littoral countries – such as The Philippines – in areas of intelligence sharing and disaster relief.
In addition, The Philippines should encourage dialog between state and non-state actors in order to improve regional security, facilitate regional trade, and cooperate in the sharing of information and technology in areas such as conflict resolution, maritime safety, and regional economic development.
Finally, The Philippines should also collaborate with non-governmental organizations and other international bodies to address possible sources of maritime tensions, such as overfishing, piracy, and illegal trafficking. This should include provisions for robust enforcement of international law and universal principles, particularly with regards to conservation and resource protection in the South China Sea.
Threats To National Security
Any compromise between China and The Philippines over the South China Sea threatens to undermine national security, as the competing claims of both countries undermine the legitimacy of each other’s territorial borders. As such, it is essential that both countries explore credible diplomatic strategies to expand their interactions and strengthen the security of the region.
Furthermore, The Philippines must strive to maintain and expand its defensive presence in the South China Sea and ensure that enough naval and air assets are deployed to protect its claims. Additionally, it should continue its strong advocacy at the regional and international level in regards to rights of access, resource exploitation, and law enforcement in the strategic waters.
The Role Of The U.S. In The Conflict
The U.S. has been a key ally to The Philippines in its struggle to assert its rights over the South China Sea. It has done so through both diplomatic and military means, providing support in the form of asset sharing and joint patrols, as well as engaging in more comprehensive strategic dialogues with The Philippines and other states in the region.
Washington has based its policy on the promotion of a “rules-based order” of maritime security in the South China Sea, which it argues is indispensable for the entire region to prosper. Moreover, the U.S. has urged all parties to the dispute to abstain from aggressive rhetoric and military buildup in the region and instead seek collaborative, diplomatic solutions.
At the same time, the U.S. has also provided The Philippines with military assistance and consultations on maritime security issues, including training to help the country strengthen its capabilities in the maritime region. It has equally joined forces with The Philippines in its initiatives to protect the region’s resources, and has opposed Chinese-led projects, such as the construction of artificial island bases, in the South China Sea.
Improvements In International Relations
The South China Sea conflict has shown the world the importance of international cooperation and the need to find mutual understanding. In this regard, The Philippines has worked hard to improve its diplomatic relations with China and actively engage in dialog and negotiations on the issue.
This has included both bilateral and multilateral talks, such as the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue between The Philippines, Japan and the United States. Such dialogues have proven useful in encouraging both sides to take a more constructive and cooperative approach to the dispute, allowing for greater collaboration and negotiation rather than outright confrontation.
The Philippines has also engaged with the U.S. and other regional countries to promote the development of a South China Sea code of conduct. The code of conduct, which was finalized in 2020, seeks to promote peaceful resolution of disputes and mutual cooperation in the region, without prejudice to participating states’ respective rights and obligations. This includes the rights of The Philippines to exercise its territorial and maritime sovereignty over the South China Sea.
Deepening Military Ties In The Region
The Philippines has also been reaching out to strengthen military cooperation with the U.S. and its allies in the region. It has particularly been focusing on boosting its areas of defense technical cooperation with the U.S., as well as building military ties with Japan and other regional states such as India, Vietnam, and Singapore.
The Philippines and the U.S., in particular, have been a strong team in the region and have successfully orchestrated joint operations in the waters to protect its rights in the South China Sea. Moreover, the two countries have taken part in joint naval exercises and other joint-operational activities to show the world that the two sides are committed to working together to ensure peace and stability in the region.
The Philippines is also making its presence felt in the South China Sea by conducting maritime security patrols and partnering with regional countries, such as Japan and Vietnam, to ensure that the waters are secured. This cooperation has helped the country to reinforce its support for regional security and to signal its readiness to protect its sovereign interests.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Philippines has made a strong case for its sovereignty over the South China Sea and has adopted a number of strategies to strengthen its presence in the region. It has done so by relying upon international legal bodies, deepening its cooperation with the United States and other regional countries, and engaging in détente measures with China. The country is also asserting its authority in the South China Sea by actively patrolling the waters, strengthening its military ties in the region, and boosting its presence at international negotiations. The Philippines has thus proven its commitment to the protection of its rights and to the search for a peaceful resolution to the South China Sea dispute.
