Unveiling the Hidden Truth: The West Philippine Sea's Identity in the South China Sea…. ssshhh?!! oaaa?!
For the past decade, the South China Sea dispute has become a much-debated topic in Southeast Asian nations. The Philippines, particularly, has been the main player in this row, claiming its sovereign rights over some parts of the sea and resources within it as the West Philippine Sea. Yet, is the South China Sea really the West Philippine Sea? Is there anything the Philippines can do to bring the arbitral award in 2016 to its full potential?
To answer these questions, it moves forward through the historical and legal context of the dispute. The South China Sea consists of a large water area, which is about eleven thousand kilometers long, and is located in the eastern part of the Asian mainland. The place is a resource-rich land and has high significance for trade and navigation, which makes it important in connection with the entire region. Despite this, the various nations contend for territories thus there are tensions and disputes on what should be owned
For the Philippines, the West Philippine Sea comprises the part within its Exclusive Economic Zone as defined internationally, most of which is UNCLOS or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Philippines' claim is supported by UNCLOS which bestows sovereign rights to coastal states to search and use the natural resources in the EEZ. After the arbitral tribunal rendered its verdict in favor of the Philippines in 2016, it was found that China's claims in the South China Sea lacked legal foundation. The arbitral tribunal upheld the Philippines' jurisdiction within its exclusive economic zone and stated Chinese activities as being non-existent. This was a great victory for the Philippines and a validation of its action in the claim. It is still a long and bumpy road for the Philippines to follow even though they may get the verdict in their favor at this stage. China, which has failed to recognize the court's verdict on these territorial disputes, still asserts its large maritime territories in the South China Sea. This is a huge roadblock in the way of the Philippines and the countries who have claims in this area.
In pursuit of its successful arbitral tribunal victory, the Philippines must therefore apply a number of actions. As a first move, diplomacy and multilateral talks together with the reiteration of the need to use the rule of law and respecting international agreements should become the cornerstones of the strategy. Discovering allies from other countries and regional organizations empowers the Philippines to firm up its position and thus to use diplomatic instruments against China in order to require them to follow the tribunal's decision. Another consideration is the Philippines investing in a stronger maritime security and capacities. The country can perform this task by building up its maritime presence along the West Philippine Sea to safeguard its sovereign rights and ward off any illegal undertakings. To this end, it is going to bolster its coast guards, join coastal patrols with the neighboring countries, and upgrade maritime surveillance and intelligence capacities.
Then, the Philippines would engage in partnerships and alliances with the other competing countries and the powers of the region that have the same interests such as peace and stability in the South China Sea. Through the promotion of collaboration and coordination the Philippines will have a better chance to demonstrate unity and strengthen its negotiating power versus China.
More importantly, the Philippines showcase the verdict made following the arbitral tribunal. The Philippines can educate the public about the legal merits of their case and the value of complying with international laws via public diplomacy and strategic communication programs, which aims to reach both the local and international audience. This is achieved through different channels such as social media, academic exchanges and international conferences, among others, which serve as a medium to disseminate factual information and quash the spread of misinformation and propaganda.
As an end point, the South China Sea is the West Philippine Sea that belongs to the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. To uphold the arbitral tribunal success achieved, the Philippines has to sustain diplomacy, improve maritime abilities, seek partnership and inform the masses about the ruling. Through such a move, the Philippines would be able to safeguard its sovereignty, enforce laws, and promote peace and economic growth in the Southeast Asian area.