The territorial disputes the Philippines has been involved in with other countries, most notably with China, over the islands and waters in the West Philippine Sea could be traced all the way back to colonial times. When Spain ceded the Philippine islands to the United States, it was in the Treaty of Paris where, for the first time, the islands comprising the Philippines was enumerated. Since then, and before the passage of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), several other neighboring countries had also claimed certain territories of which the Philippines itself had already declared as its own. This had caused disputes over who owns which part of the world and who was entitled to all that was within them.
The UNCLOS was an agreement entered into by different countries which established the limits of each country’s territory, where certain activities are to be allowed, and where each country has exclusive rights over the natural resources of certain areas. The Philippine legislature ratified the treaty in 1984 by virtue of incorporating it into our legal system.
However, China maintained and continues to maintain its claim over virtually the entire South China Sea. In response thereto, President Benigno Aquino III by virtue of an Administrative Order in 2011 formally renamed South China Sea to the West Philippine Sea, as an act of demonstrating the country’s defiance over China’s encroachment. The Philippine Government formally brought its claim to the Permanent Court of Arbitration for adjudication. And in a historic ruling, the tribunal formally sided with the Philippines’ claim over the territory.
From the moment our Government brought action to the international tribunal, the Government of China has not once acknowledged the authority of the court, claiming it had no jurisdiction over them. During the entire span that our case was being defended, Chinese fishermen continuously operated within our waters, hoarding large amounts of rare and protected marine life. Our own fishermen have from time to time been forcibly expelled from the area by Chinese navy with the use of water cannons. Meanwhile, territories such as the Panatag Shoal were found to have ongoing major constructions by the Chinese Government.
The Philippines is not alone in being strongarmed by China. Countries such as Taiwan who also have valid claims over certain territories have also faced the wrath of the Chinese navy. Meanwhile, the Chinese government’s official spokesperson endlessly dismissed all complaints various countries have aired against them, insisting their superior right over all these territories.
Beginning in 2016, when President Aquino was succeeded by President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines suddenly shifted its adversarial tone over the disputed territories. From being victorious in its case with the international tribunal and enforcing the tribunal’s ruling against China, the Duterte administration had a softer stance over the issue, calling China our friends who are not to be messed with, after years of being bullied and our fisherfolk’s lives put in jeopardy.
The issue on the West Philippine Sea shows no signs of ending soon, as China’s persistent disregard over the claims of other countries has been consistent for several years despite the finality of the Hague ruling. It would seem as though our stand over the territories would depend on who the President of the Philippines is, considering he is considered the chief architect in foreign relations. As time passes, the tension between nations has instead turned to tension between our people and its government. Instead of defending the country’s sovereignty against the rest of the world, the government is almost symbolically handing over the country’s territories to its bullies.
Why China would insist for so long that it owns the West Philippine Sea is anyone’s guess. However, some have speculated that aside from territorial expansion, China’s agenda points to the possibility that it is after its natural resources in order to capitalize on them. Each day that China’s state forces are within our territory is another day we are being robbed of what is rightfully ours. Not only this, it is also reported that several marine life are being destroyed, while others are in danger of becoming extinct.
It is also important to point out that, with China’s continued territorial encroachment, there has also been a trend in recent years of an influx of Chinese nationals coming into the Philippines. With this, the sudden influx has also been linked to Chinese casinos being banned in China, but have offshore companies established in different counties such as the Philippines. While finding temporary employment is not illegal, reports indicate that these Chinese nationals are in the country illegally, even conniving with high-ranking government officials. There has also been a trend of posh residential areas once being rented out to Filipinos suddenly turned over to higher paying Chinese tenants.
All this has created a greater tension between peoples. The sudden influx of foreigners who work and are being served in establishments while countless Filipinos cannot even find a decent job here, has inevitably associated to the tension arising from the territorial dispute between the Philippines and the Chinese Government. While these issues against the Chinese Government have sadly brought out the worst of our people in our involuntary disdain over Chinese nationals, it is truly sinister of the Philippine Government to betray its people so ruthlessly, as though our own elected officials have something to gain in their betrayal of their own.
Only time can tell what will happen next. The next presidential elections could even dictate the fate of our sovereignty and the mistreatment our people have faced after all these years.