By Santiago U. Vitug
How should the Philippines proceed in navigating the challenges in the West Philippine Sea?
For Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, a forward-looking approach centered on “steadfast, measured, and constructive diplomacy” is the key to resolving “this complex, inter-generation issue.”
At the Stratbase ADR Institute’s conference commemorating the 8th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision, Lazaro said the Philippines’ diplomatic engagements are meant to express its desire to uphold “peace, stability, and prosperity” not only with the parties in the South China Sea but also with those of the Greater Indo-Pacific area.
G7, the world’s most advanced economies, mentioned the arbitral award in a joint statement and that counts as a success in promoting the arbitral award, said the Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“That really gave us the prominence that we wanted,” she said.
Lazaro said the DFA, together with its 94 embassies, missions, and consulates generals, continues to work to promote the arbitral award.
“Promoting the award is a consistent agenda, be it in the bilateral, regional, or multilateral fora,” she said. “Through political consultations, maritime dialogues, multilateral cooperative activities, joint statements, among others, we continue to raise greater awareness of the issue and the prominence of the arbitral award.”
At the same time, Lazaro noted various challenges. One is the absence of a “supranational law enforcement body” capable of compelling states to comply with the arbitral award for the Philippines.
This, despite states being “obliged to honor their legal obligations in good faith. This is how other states determine whether you are a reliable, dependable partner.”
Lazaro also highlighted the limitations of the United Nations Security Council, where the veto power of permanent members like China can prevent decisive action.
“The United Nations Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, its decision-making processes ensure that the Council will never act or may not act against the interest of a permanent member who has veto power,” she said.
Lazaro said another challenge is China’s continuous questioning of “the legitimacy and legality of the 2016 arbitral award by peddling alternative and unfounded narratives.” She noted China’s escalation of tensions through aggressive actions such as ramming ships and using water cannons against Philippine vessels.
China is “ready to take on the reputational cost of non-compliance with international law and attempts to weather it through economic inducements and development aid, as well as positioning itself as the counterweight to the so-called Western Imperialism,” she said.
Looking ahead, Lazaro underscored the importance of “balancing sovereignty and global norms.”
“The set of rules, norms, and laws that make up the rules-based international order establish, define, and enable sovereignty—they allow states to co-exist harmoniously by clarifying the rights and obligations of states,” she said.
On the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s opinion on the rules-based international order as a “set of house rules established by a few Western countries to contain and suppress other countries,” Lazaro said this is framing the concepts of sovereignty and rules-based order, or global norms, as polar opposites, and not as “two reinforcing sides of the same coin.”
While recognizing the need to preserve relations with China, Lazaro said that upholding international law and fostering cooperation remain paramount for the Philippines.
“We recognize the importance of preserving the bilateral relationship with China, which remains a major economic partner, with whom we share deep historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties,” she said.
The Philippines is “not without options nor are we bereft of friends in the international community,” she added.
Ultimately, Lazaro’s message is clear: The way forward involves a balanced approach that combines diplomatic engagement with a steadfast commitment to international law and regional stability.