Last week was truly remarkable, filled with a sense of vindication that permeated the air. The seventh anniversary of the Philippines’ historic arbitration award, held at the Manila Polo Club by the ADR-Stratbase Institute, was a joyful and triumphant occasion. Dignitaries from our major allies and partners graced the event, along with leading policymakers, experts, and advocates who tirelessly fought for our sovereign rights. This celebration had a unique atmosphere, unlike any of the previous anniversaries, as it coincided with the tenure of a president who was unabashedly pro-Beijing.
It is essential to remember the tenure of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who shamelessly exhibited slavish behavior in his foreign policy towards China. As a mayor-turned-president, he openly called on regional states to submit and be “meek” and “humble” in exchange for Beijing’s “mercy.” He had a deep affection for China, claiming that they would protect him from any potential threat to his rule. While he bashed the West for their past misdeeds, he shamelessly parroted Beijing’s line whenever Filipino fishermen faced harassment under his watch. One has to question the notion of calling this embarrassingly self-indulgent kowtowing an “independent foreign policy.” Sadly, this stance was enough to earn him the Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) awards.
Equally disheartening were the apologists who attempted to spin Duterte’s submissive behavior towards Beijing. For six years, the former president and his followers gaslighted anyone who stood up to China’s bullying in the West Philippine Sea, labeling them as “warmongers.” In Duterte’s flawed strategic thinking, our only options were fatalism or risking “suicidal” conflict. The idea of hedging or balancing, which is a common practice among our neighbors, was not even considered. Against this backdrop, the anniversary event honoring the arbitration award was a fitting tribute to all the patriots who resisted the worst instincts of Duterte and his strategic patron, the late Philippine foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario. Notable attendees included former Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio, Ambassador Henry Bensurto, and professors Dindo Manhit and Renato de Castro, who bravely stood against bullies in the name of our national interest.
Contrary to what international media may believe, the Duterte era inspired courageous resistance, not just from a single journalist or media organization, but from a united movement fighting for democracy and patriotism. Let me be clear, we all held the line throughout those six years. We endured death threats, vicious online trolling, and much more. We stood our ground in the face of adversity, fighting for every inch of our soil. The Philippines has a long history of hosting heroic movements in the face of petty tyrants and imperial aggression. However, due to disinformation and ignorance, many fail to grasp the importance of the arbitration award, which both Duterte and China dismiss as worthless.
Allow me to briefly explain the three significant advantages bestowed upon the Philippines by the arbitration award. Firstly, Beijing’s defeat was so comprehensive that it ceased using the anachronistic “nine-dash line” in official statements. Its subsequent legal acrobatics, such as the “four sha,” were met with ridicule overseas. Secondly, the award provided a legal pretext and strategic impetus for the United States and other major naval powers to increase their “freedom of navigation and overflight” patrols in the South China Sea, preventing it from becoming “China’s Lake.” Lastly, the award pressured the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to resist China’s attempts to impose its version of international law in ongoing Code of Conduct negotiations.
For me, the most significant contribution of the arbitration award is not only the diplomatic leverage it gives us with China, who hardly reciprocated Duterte’s subservience, but also the revitalized sense of patriotism it has instilled in the Filipino people.
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