West Philippine Sea: What We Need to Know

We may have heard in the news that there’s an ongoing dispute over the West Philippine Sea. What is that all about? What do we need to know about the West Philippine Sea?

The disputes created impact in the relationship of the Philippines with China, the United States and with the ASEAN.

According to the UP Asian Studies, the disputes created an undesirable impact in the country’s relationship with China, and led to the need for strengthened defense cooperation with the US. Also, the Philippines is challenged to build a common ASEAN position which would help us to withstand any threat to stability and peace.

Through bilateral and multilateral initiatives, the Philippine government has been actively encouraging peaceful settlement for the West Philippine Sea. In fact, the country had proposed and led the drafting of the ASEAN-China Declaration of Conduct.

Based on the UP Asian Studies’ observation, while the country is fighting for its sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, the battle has helped in uniting Filipinos. Territorial integrity, national patrimony both helped Filipinos shape our national identity, the UP Asian Studies added.

About the UNCLOS

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) grants coastal states sovereign rights over economic resources, legal jurisdictions over certain types of sea-based activities within 200 n.m. EEZ and the continental measured from their baselines. The country has signed and ratified this. As such, UNCLOS provides the country some advantages with regard to access to resources as well as some forms of regulatory jurisdiction over 2 million square kilometres of water and seabed.

Moreover, the UNCLOS gives guidance for states with overlapping jurisdiction claims, providing the option to make peaceful settlement mechanisms (such as the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, the International Court of Justice, and arbitration arrangements).

It is also through the UNCLOS that the Philippines and Indonesia joined hands to gain acceptance of the concept of archipelagic state.

However, the country’s efforts to affirm sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, to implement provisions in the UNCLOS in its EEZ that is in line with national development and security goals, are all hindered by claims made by other countries.

There were (territorial) tensions that happened among countries bordering the sea. There was rivalry for regional influence.

The short term and long term interests of the Philippines must be taken into consideration, as well as the regional and international environment.

How will the dispute affect Filipinos?

First, we should note that fisheries are threatened by both reef degradation and overfishing. In the West Philippine Sea, foreign fishing fleets are continuously exerting efforts to improve catch, and some are even encouraged by their government to use this as a means of maritime claims.

The UP Asian Studies noted that the Philippines, on the other hand, focuses on resource conservation and protection. Thus, it has not increased efforts on marine fishing.

Second is with regard to hydrocarbons and minerals. According to international research data, Philippines has a significant oil and gas plus other mineral deposits, especially around Palawan. Access to the said resources would therefore be an interest in the West Philippine Sea.

So there’s a need to clarify Philippine policies on oil and gas cooperation in the West Philippine Sea, the UP Asian Studies cited. (PNA) CTB/MCCA/RSM