Name of Learners: De Moral, Angeela May & Sumugat, Rodmar B.
Date: 10/27/22
Course & Section: BSBA FM – 1B Subject Code: SOC SCI 112
POSITION PAPER
Philippines International Relation with China
The relations of the Philippines to China dates back to the 10 th centenary
where it was established by the political relationship of Chinese traders to
Filipino Chieftains. The relationship of both countries which spans several
centuries, have been predominantly warm and cordial. But in recent years, both
countries have experienced fiery issues such as the territorial dispute in the
West Philippine Sea and it resulted into their “cooling off”, hitting a low
point since the establishment of their diplomatic relations. The conflict
between China and the Philippines in the Western Philippine Sea [a.k.a the
South China Sea]is the result of years of territorial dispute over the Spartly
Island – a group of 7,500 islands and reefs that multiple countries have
claimed as their own. The relation of the Philippines and China was
established in June 9, 1975, in the reign of President Ferdinand Marcos.
The maritime dispute has caused noise on social media as it causes two main
problems for the Philippine fishing: first, overlapping claims more fishing
boats competing for limited resources; and secondly, foreign vessels
intimidate local fishermen, who prefer to avoid trouble. These patterns affect
different areas differently. In Palawan, fishermen do not go beyond municipal
waters and are hardly affected by the dispute. As said in the Philippine law,
the West Philippine Sea refers only to the portions of the South China Sea
which the Philippine government claims to be part of the country’s exclusive
economic zone (EZZ). The naming of the area became official through
Administrative Order No. 29 issued by then – President Benigno Aquino III on
September 5, 2012. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which
China is a signatory state, gives countries an exclusive economic zone that
extends 200 nautical miles or 370km, from their coasts. But china says its
claims stems from historical use of the sea by Chinese vessels as far back as
2,000 years ago. This has embodied China to build artificial islands in the
Spartlys, damaging the ecosystem of the West Philippine Sea in the process.
China claims “historic rights” over the islands and other maritime features in
the South China Sea while the Philippines contests these claims on the ground
that they are incompatible with the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The
Philippine scored a victory against China in the Permanent Court of
Arbitration in The Hauge, Netherlands in 2016. The arbitration court declared
Beijing’s claim over nearly the entire South China Sea as illegal. But China
refused to recognized the 2016 arbitral ruling. When Rodrigo Roa Duterte was
elected as the President of the Philippines, instead of fighting with China he
moved closer with Beijing. But even under Duterte, China’s grey zone
operations – calibrated actions at sea short of live-fire attacks but intended
to coerce opponents – have remained the most serious challenge to the
Philippine maritime sovereignty. Despite the president’s cooperative stand,
Beijing has maintained a consistent maritime presence in the West Philippine
Sea. In an interview the new elected president of the Philippines Ferdinand
“Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. said the Philippines has no territorial dispute with
China, saying that it is Beijing that is “claiming a territory that belongs to
the Philippines”. Despite this, Marcos said that the Philippines will continue
to work with parties involved to resolve the matter peacefully. He said that
‘differences’ between Philippines and China concerning maritime territorial
claims should not be “the defining element of our relationship”. China’s
presidential speaker then answered to the statement of the Philippines, “As
what the Philippine President says, we will try our best to resolve this
matter peacefully and will maintain peace”. Actions that should be done by the
government is that the Philippines should push for a substantive and effective
Code of Conduct between ASEAN and China, while continuing to pursue bilateral
talks with China on maritime disputes. Philippines should also try to boost
regional cooperation on issues of common concern, such as fisheries management
and law enforcement. Foreign Affairs Secretary, Albert del Rosario urged the
United Nations and international community to continue supporting efforts to
seek peaceful resolution to maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea during
the 70th UN General Assembly.
To sum it all up, despite of the maritime territorial dispute of both
countries, they still maintain a balance and peaceful relation in different
aspect. While protecting territorial sovereignty is paramount, a country must
also work with other countries for other benefits and mutual gains. It is
indispensable for the Philippines and China as neighbors to engage with each
other despite having diverging geopolitical and security concerns.
Furthermore, such concerns ought to motivate the two countries to exercise
restraint in dealing with soviet issues and to develop greater, long-term
bilateral cooperation.
