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^In this paper, the term 'South China Sea' (SCS} refers to the entire semi-enclosed sea bordered by China,
the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. On the other hand, the term 'West Philippine Sea' (WPS}
refers to only the part of the South China Sea that is the subject of Philippine sovereignty and/or
jurisdictional claims. WPS is inclusive of the Kalayaan Island Group or KIG, Bajo de Masinloc (a.k.a. Panatag
or Scarborough Shoal}, and the 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ} and Continental Shelf
(CS}, accounted from the archipelagic baselines defined i n Republic Act 9522 (Philippine Baselines Law}.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The fundamental p r o b l e m
The P h i l i p p i n e s has l o n g - s t a n d i n g t e r r i t o r i a l a n d j u r i s d i c t i o n a l disputes w i t h several
states b o r d e r i n g the SCS, as w e l l as u n d e l i m i t e d m a r i t i m e b o u n d a r i e s i n v a r i o u s w a t e r s
adjacent to the archipelago. These d i s p u t e s affect the economic, n a t i o n a l security,
h u m a n s e c u r i t y a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l interests of the country, a n d m o r e o v e r i m p a c t o n
r e g i o n a l s t a b i l i t y a n d the p r o s p e c t s for successful r e g i o n a l i n t e g r a t i o n i n East A s i a .
P h i l i p p i n e efforts to assert s o v e r e i g n t y i n the W P S a n d to i m p l e m e n t p r o v i s i o n s of the
U N C L O S i n its E E Z i n l i n e w i t h n a t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d s e c u r i t y goals are s t y m i e d b y
the claims a n d actions of o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . In the last several years, t e r r i t o r i a l t e n s i o n s
a m o n g s o m e c o u n t r i e s b o r d e r i n g the sea have escalated, a n d these have o c c u r r e d
against the b a c k d r o p of b r o a d e r g e o p o l i t i c a l shifts, i n c l u d i n g r i v a l r y for r e g i o n a l
influence b e t w e e n great p o w e r s . T h i s c u r r e n t g e o p o l i t i c a l context m a y p r o v i d e b o t h
challenges a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s for the a d v a n c e m e n t of P h i l i p p i n e interests a n d for the
peaceful r e s o l u t i o n of s a i d d i s p u t e s .
T h e r e is a n e e d for a c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d strategic a p p r o a c h to p o l i c y m a k i n g o n the
W P S , t a k i n g i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n the m y r i a d short- to l o n g - t e r m interests of the c o u n t r y at
stake, the fluid r e g i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d the d o m e s t i c i m p e r a t i v e s
that w i l l affect h o w g o v e r n m e n t p r i o r i t i z e s the a l l o c a t i o n of its efforts a n d resources.
Imperatives of Philippine Policy in the WPS
Sustainable
Development
of the Marine
Economy and
Resources
Fisheries
1.
3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A s i d e f r o m fisheries a n d h y d r o c a r b o n s , t h e r e is a n e e d to c o n d u c t t h o r o u g h
assessments of other offshore m i n e r a l r e s o u r c e s s u c h as r a r e earths, i r o n , t i t a n i u m ,
v a n a d i u m sands, m a n g a n e s e n o d u l e s a n d m a s s i v e sulfides, as w e l l as of the
r e n e w a b l e energy p o t e n t i a l s of the ocean.
Promoting
Maritime
1.
The P h i h p p i n e g o v e r n m e n t , i n its N a t i o n a l S e c u r i t y P o h c y ( 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 6 ] , o u t l i n e s as
one of its objectives to "capacitate the P h i l i p p i n e s to exercise full s o v e r e i g n t y o v e r
its t e r r i t o r y a n d to p r o v i d e p r o t e c t i o n to its m a r i t i m e a n d other strategic i n t e r e s t s " .
The P h i l i p p i n e defense e s t a b i s h m e n t is i n t r a n s i t i o n f r o m focusing o n I n t e r n a l
Security Operations
(counter-insurgency,
counter-separatism, and
countert e r r o r i s m ) to T e r r i t o r i a l Defense.
2.
3.
4.
Law Enforcement
1.
and Contributing
2.
3.
4.
A N a t i o n a l Coast W a t c h S y s t e m w a s e s t a b l i s h e d t h r o u g h E x e c u t i v e O r d e r 57, as a
" c e n t r a l inter-agency m e c h a n i s m for a c o o r d i n a t e d a n d c o h e r e n t a p p r o a c h o n
m a r i t i m e issues a n d m a r i t i m e s e c u r i t y o p e r a t i o n s t o w a r d s e n h a n c i n g g o v e r n a n c e i n
the c o u n t r y ' s m a r i t i m e d o m a i n " . EO 57 also a b o h s h e d the C o m m i s s i o n on M a r i t i m e
a n d Ocean Affairs w h i c h since 2 0 0 7 h a d f u n c t i o n e d as the c o o r d i n a t i n g m e c h a n i s m
at the strategic level.
Asserting Sovereignty
Economic Zone
Exclusive
1.
2.
3.
Advancing
1.
Relations
be n a t i o n a l sovereignty, t e r r i t o r i a l integrity, n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t a n d the r i g h t to selfd e t e r m i n a t i o n . " A r t . 2 , Sec. 2 of the C o n s t i t u t i o n also states that "the P h i h p p i n e s
r e n o u n c e s w a r as an i n s t r u m e n t of n a t i o n a l pohcy, a d o p t s the generally accepted
p r i n c i p l e s of i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w as p a r t of t h e l a w of the l a n d a n d adheres to the
p o h c y of peace, equality, justice, f r e e d o m , c o o p e r a t i o n a n d a m i t y w i t h all nations."
2.
3.
4.
Organizing
For Future
Challenges
1.
2.
3.
i n s t r u m e n t s for i n f o r m a t i o n d i s s e m i n a t i o n , a w a r e n e s s - r a i s i n g , s t i m u l a t i n g l i v e l y
a n d a n a l y t i c a l debates, a n d m o b i l i z i n g p u b l i c s u p p o r t o n the one h a n d . T h e y are also
i n s t r u m e n t s for gauging p u b l i c s e n t i m e n t a n d s o l i c i t i n g feedback on g o v e r n m e n t
policies a n d actions. U l t i m a t e l y , the t o u g h decisions g o v e r n m e n t w i l l have to m a k e
w i t h r e g a r d to the W P S s h o u l d be for the benefit of the people. T h e i r u n d e r s t a n d i n g
of the issues a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the d e c i s i o n m a k i n g w i l l be v i t a l to a n y successful
policy.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS
The f o l l o w i n g are p r o p o s e d g u i d i n g p r i n c i p l e s for P h i l i p p i n e p o h c y o n the W e s t
P h i l i p p i n e Sea.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2.
T h a t g o v e r n m e n t develop a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , l o n g - t e r m p r o g r a m for i n t e r n a t i o n a l
legal a c t i o n on issues r e l a t i n g to the disputes, a n d establish the a p p r o p r i a t e
i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d rules for u n d e r t a k i n g such a p r o g r a m . Such a p r o g r a m m a y i n c l u d e
but not be l i m i t e d to the n e g o t i a t i o n of b o u n d a r i e s , filing of cases, s e e k i n g
a r b i t r a t i o n a n d / o r a d v i s o r y o p i n i o n o n critical issues f r o m c o m p e t e n t bodies, w h i l e
t a k i n g into c o n s i d e r a t i o n the n e e d to create favorable p o l i t i c a l , d i p l o m a t i c a n d
s e c u r i t y c o n d i t i o n s for conflict r e s o l u t i o n .
T h a t g o v e r n m e n t d e v e l o p strategic e c o n o m i c r e s o u r c e s d e v e l o p m e n t p r o g r a m s for
the P h i l i p p i n e E E Z , w i t h respect to:
a. Sustainable a n d r e s p o n s i b l e fisheries, w i t h g o v e r n m e n t assistance for
artisanal/smaU-scale f i s h e r m e n ;
b. O p t i m i z e d e x p l o i t a t i o n of o i l a n d gas resources, b a l a n c i n g e c o n o m i c
interests a n d the s o v e r e i g n t y / s e c u r i t y c o n c e r n s ;
c. E x p l o r a t o r y s u r v e y s of other offshore m i n e r a l r e s o u r c e s ;
d. E s t a b l i s h i n g w h e r e necessary, t r a n s i t i o n a l g u i d e l i n e s a n d rules for l a w
enforcement i n selected E E Z areas u n d e r dispute, t a k i n g i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n
d o m e s t i c l a w s a n d the r e l e v a n t U N C L O S p r o v i s i o n s ; a n d
e. E n a b l i n g a n d c a p a c i t a t i n g organs for l a w e n f o r c e m e n t a n d for the p r o t e c t i o n
of F i h p i n o s engaged i n the exercise of s o v e r e i g n rights o v e r the E E Z .
T h a t g o v e r n m e n t d e v e l o p a clear, feasible, a n d resolute s e c u r i t y a n d defense
strategy for the W P S , b a s e d o n :
a.
S o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g of s h i f t i n g r e g i o n a l d y n a m i c s a n d g e o p o l i t i c a l
r e b a l a n c i n g t a k i n g place;
b.
F a c t u a l a n d accurate t h r e a t a n d r i s k assessments l o o k i n g at capabilities,
p o l i t i c a l i n t e n t i o n s a n d actions of a d v e r s a r i e s ;
c.
C o r r e c t a p p r e c i a t i o n of o u r o w n s e c u r i t y a n d defense capabilities a n d
w e a k n e s s e s , i n c l u d i n g the p o t e n t i a l for allied assistance a n d the influence of
r e m a i n i n g i n t e r n a l s e c u r i t y chahenges,
d.
e.
T h a t b i l a t e r a l a n d r e g i o n a l d i p l o m a c y p e r t a i n i n g to W P S :
a. S h o u l d be s t r a t e g i z e d i n the context of c o m p r e h e n s i v e foreign p o l i c y goals
s u c h as p r o m o t i o n of n a t i o n a l security, e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t a n d the
w e l f a r e of nationals;
b. S h o u l d c o n t r i b u t e u l t i m a t e l y to s t r e n g t h e n i n g r e g i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l
peace a n d s t a b i l i t y b a s e d o n i n t e r n a t i o n a l law, n o r m s a n d s t a n d a r d s ;
c. Be g u i d e d b y o u r l o n g - t e r m a s p i r a t i o n s for o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h A S E A N , C h i n a ,
the U n i t e d States, n e i g h b o r i n g c o u n t r i e s i n Southeast A s i a and N o r t h e a s t
A s i a , a n d other k e y stakeholders.
T h a t p r o g r a m s be u n d e r t a k e n to inculcate a r c h i p e l a g i c consciousness a n d i d e n t i t y
of the P h i l i p p i n e s a n d the F i l i p i n o s as a m a r i t i m e n a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g b u t not l i m i t e d
to:
a. P r e p a r a t i o n a n d w i d e d i s s e m i n a t i o n of i n f o r m a t i o n [e.g. p r i m e r s a n d
reference materials) o u t l i n i n g P h i l i p p i n e interests for p o p u l a r c o n s u m p t i o n ;
b. B u i l d i n g grassroots constituencies for a d v o c a c y for the m a r i n e a n d coastal
e n v i r o n m e n t , safety a n d f r e e d o m of n a v i g a t i o n , d i s a s t e r - p r e p a r e d n e s s a n d
response, g o o d n e i g h b o r l i n e s s a n d r e g i o n a l c o o p e r a t i o n , a m o n g others;
c.
d.
10 A u g u s t 2 0 1 2 , Q u e z o n C i t y
10
LETICIA RAMOS-SHAHANI
F o r m e r Senator, R e p u b l i c of the P h i l i p p i n e s
F o r m e r D e p u t y M i n i s t e r for P h i l i p p i n e
Affairs a n d U N A s s i s t a n t Secretary-General
for Social a n d H u m a n i t a r i a n Affairs
A T T Y . RODEL A. CRUZ
F o r m e r U n d e r s e c r e t a r y , Office of the
Chief P r e s i d e n t i a l Legal C o u n s e l ,
Office of the P r e s i d e n t
Former Undersecretary,
D e p a r t m e n t of N a t i o n a l Defense
V A D M EDUARDO M A R. SANTOS
AFP(Ret)
P r e s i d e n t , M a r i t i m e A c a d e m y of A s i a
a n d the Pacific
F o r m e r Flag Officer In C o m m a n d ,
Phihppine Navy
DR. GUILLERMO R. B A L C E
Former Undersecretary,
D e p a r t m e n t of E n e r g y
A T T Y . M A L C O L M I. SARMIENTO JR.
Former Director,
B u r e a u of F i s h e r i e s a n d A q u a t i c
Resources, D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e
A T T Y . JAY L B A T O N G B A C A L
Professor, College of L a w
U n i v e r s i t y of the P h i l i p p i n e s
11