Due to the unfortunate Duterte presidency, the Philippines has never received the recognition it deserves for its historic victory against China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea. On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) made a significant decision, and it was up to then newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte to assert this unprecedented win. However, just a few months into his term, Duterte announced that he would “set aside” the arbitral ruling, claiming that the Philippines was not ready to confront China. And to make matters worse, in 2021, Duterte completely dismissed the ruling, referring to it as a mere “scrap of paper.”
Let us take a moment to revisit the content of this “scrap of paper.” The PCA, which was established in 1899, is responsible for resolving disputes pertaining to territory, maritime issues, sovereignty, human rights, and other matters. It boasts 122 nations as signatories. Regarding the Philippines’ arbitration case, the tribunal based in The Hague concluded that China had no legal grounds to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the “nine-dash line.” Furthermore, the ruling stated that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) by interfering with fishing and petroleum exploration, constructing artificial islands, and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from operating within the zone.
Unfortunately, due to Duterte’s policy of appeasing China for economic gains and his disdain for his predecessor, the late President Benigno Aquino III, who initiated the case before the PCA, the Philippines officially undermined its legal victory. This has allowed China to persistently encroach on the West Philippine Sea, disregarding our territorial claims and causing disturbances in the region. Throughout Duterte’s six-year administration, hundreds of Chinese militia ships have routinely intruded on reefs and shoals within our territory, engaging in dangerous maneuvers, using military-grade lasers against Philippine ships, and harassing Filipino fishermen. These violations continue to occur even today. In fact, just last week, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that a Chinese coast guard vessel obstructed its resupply ship to Ayungin Shoal, which is a mere 194 kilometers off Palawan. Additionally, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command in Palawan confirmed the presence of over 50 Chinese vessels surrounding Recto Bank, a resource-rich area within our EEZ.
Regrettably, the arbitral ruling has become synonymous with China’s repeated violations rather than its role in maintaining peace and security in the South China Sea, a crucial trade route and livelihood source for nations affected by China’s actions. Does our triumph in the tribunal hold any value? Certainly. Fortunately, under the new administration of President Marcos, we are heading in the right direction. From the onset, he has acknowledged the 2016 arbitral victory and expressed his administration’s commitment to assert the country’s territorial rights. While promoting economic ties with China, President Marcos has made it clear that his government will not compromise an inch of Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea. However, this stance must be consistently upheld and matched with action whenever Chinese incursions occur.
It is commendable that the Philippine navy, coast guard, and military have finally taken a vocal stand against China’s aggressive actions, something they were unable to do during the Duterte administration. While China may not recognize the arbitral ruling, many nations support its significance in maintaining peace within the region. In response to the recent incidents of Chinese aggression in Recto Bank and Ayungin Shoal, MaryKay Carlson, the US ambassador to the Philippines, took the lead in denouncing China’s irresponsible behavior. Ambassadors from Germany, Japan, France, and Australia echoed this disapproval. Numerous Western and European nations have also condemned China’s actions and urged them to respect the ruling.
Up to this point, the Marcos administration has filed more than 97 diplomatic protests against Chinese incursions, but unfortunately, these have yielded no significant result. Nevertheless, the Philippines must persist in reminding China of the 2016 arbitral ruling. This ruling represents our victory and our contribution to maintaining peace and preventing aggression in our fragile region. It is a victory that deserves our nation’s wholehearted support.
Your subscription has been successful. Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to gain access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and over 70 other titles. With your subscription, you can share the subscription with up to 5 devices, listen to the news, download articles as early as 4am, and share them on social media. For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, please contact us.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
