Transcending boundaries in its most literal sense.

Is it the West Philippine Sea

conflict? Or should we regard it as the South China Sea dispute? The Philippines and
China have had this long-standing dispute since time eternal over the oceans in
between. Their claims have been anchored to different bases and both countries have
remained firm to it that we cannot discuss nor argue with or further needlessly justify—
numerous attempts to find a diplomatic resolution needed to be more effective. The
tension between these nations remained heated and confronted us with the
repercussions.
Disputes of this matter, core issues that dwell with territorial sovereignty and
maritime demarcations, are destabilizing. History itself is a proven testament to its effect
on the economy and peace within the region. It has dramatically affected stability,
security, and freedom of navigation in the disputed area, not just of the two countries:
China and the Philippines, but also of the other countries who may be directly or
indirectly involved. It is important to note that the Philippines is one of many countries
that have filed for an official claim for the territory before the International Tribunal for
the Laws of the Sea (ITLOS). Claims have been made as well by Vietnam, Taiwan,
Malaysia, and Brunei. This is deemed as an obscure issue that turned into a meta
issue.
Why do we say it is destabilizing?
Freedom of navigation. The actions taken by China among all the nations
claiming the area imply slowly losing the right to navigate these waters. The right to
passage in the disputed area dictates how countries like the EU, Australia, and the
USA, among others, can move and access the largest markets in the world. This would
render these powerhouses relatively paralyzed. The free flow of trade and commerce
would then be incapacitated. With this as a projected outcome, the United Nations took
a stand in imposing and respecting the rule of law with due regard to the countries
involved. The entire international community has become engaged in opposing this
policy of aggression that the Chinese government built and effectuated. This, in turn, is
a disturbance to global security. Some countries are well on their way to improving their
respective arming programs. To name a few, these are Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia,
Indonesia, and India. The course of action of the mentioned countries is a sign of
opposing this atmosphere of aggression China has set.
The disputed land has an estimated 6,203 million barrels of total oil resources
and 12,158 billion cubic feet of total gas resources as of 2021, based on the
Department of Energy (DOE) data. Countries within the region and energy companies
are most hesitant to explore these resources, especially with the movements of China’s
military forces. It has hampered cooperation and joint development efforts among
countries in the region. This has caused a huge blow to the global economy.
Opportunities for joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed areas may be present with
the possibility of having “exploratory” talks between the Philippines and China in mid-
2023. Though, there is no assurance that both countries will compromise or impose
leverage over each other. These talks may either open new doors or shut them
indefinitely. Economic growth will continue to be inhibited. Exploring these waters is a
far more complicated matter encompassing sovereignty, whether it is constitutional or
would make things worse than it already is, and more importantly, the rule of law.
Aside from the reserves in the area, it is a haven for marine biodiversity. This
makes up around 2.5% of the world’s ocean surface. It is significant to the fishing
industry, accounting for about ⅓ of global shipping and around 12% of the total fish
catch in the world. Some nations have exploited the ongoing conflict to engage in
unsustainable fishing practices in these waters. It has also led to overfishing, the
destruction of marine habitats, and pollution. The different artificial islands built by China
have remained controversial as these can substantially damage the disputed waters
and their marine life. The environmental effects of this conflict would exponentially affect
the fishing industry moving forward. Everyone must understand that about 300 million
people depend on the fish from this sea for food. As the population continues to grow,
more and more will be affected. It is a projected outcome for the fishing industry to
collapse slowly, and people will be more dependent on other meat products.
The Philippines has accused China of violating its maritime rights and infringing
on its sovereignty. The Philippines has taken the matter to International Arbitration,
which ruled in its favor in 2016. However, China remained adamant and neglected the
ruling, becoming more assertive. They continued to be more aggressive in the West
Philippine Sea, leading to human rights violations, detention, and harassment of fishers
from countries with competing claims.
It is also worth noting that the conflict had geopolitical implications. China’s
actions awakened concerns among countries in the region, forming alliances to counter
China’s growing influence and maintain balance. This is similar to countries testing the
waters and having the right mindset o maintain peace. We may remember the
Scarborough shoal fiasco, which made China set a policy of aggression. This, however,
helped in conditioning countries like the USA and other European nations to express
dissatisfaction and be more robust in their course of action.
The conflict has various facets that have had such enormous impact globally.
One cannot contain the issue in a box, not with the gravity of the dispute. The resolution
of the conflict would be telling us what would happen in the next century, how the
economy would move, and how it would affect international relations. This is also a test
to maintain and uphold the rule of law to prevent its collapse, which may lead to
anarchy. Therefore, it is vital to ensure stability and mitigate the global impact of the
conflict. A multilateral approach based on international law is the best way to resolve
territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea. International actors must cooperate to
ensure that the region remains peaceful and prosperous.