No Place for Bullies in the South China Sea

The rule of law is the bedrock of peace, order and fairness in modern societies. The recent aggressive behavior by China in the Spratley islands of the South China Sea casts a shadow over any semblance of that rule of law. Chinese navy ships have fired on unarmed Philippine fishing boats. They have harassed and forced Philippine oil exploration vessels to withdraw. They have dropped steel posts and navigation buoys with Chinese markings in the water.

All of this aggressive behavior has taken place in an area just 85 nautical miles from the Philippine island of Palawan, well within the 200 nautical mile Continental Shelf that is part of Philippine territory under the UN’s Convention on Law of the Seas. In contrast, the area is 595 nautical miles from the nearest coast of China. This means that the Philippines has unequivocal sovereign rights over the area.

Accordingly, only the Philippines can develop the sector. Only the Philippines can invite foreign investors to assist in developing the area for mining, oil exploration and the pursuit of rare minerals in accordance with Philippine laws.

Intimidation is intimidation no matter how it is cloaked in protestations of peace and goodwill. It has no place in a world where nations, big and small, have equal rights.

The rise of a rules-based international system has been the great equalizer in global affairs. Respect and adherence to international law have preserved peace and resolved conflicts. International law has given equal voice to nations regardless of political, economic or military stature, banishing the unlawful use of sheer force.

To reinforce that goal, the Philippines has offered a framework that transforms the South China Sea from an area of dispute to a Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship, and Cooperation by separating disputed sectors from the undisputed ones. In the words of President Benigno Aquino Jr., the declaration of a Zone of Peace is a way to ensure that “what is ours is ours, and what is disputed, we can work towards joint cooperation.”

The disputed sectors can be transformed into a Joint Cooperation Area for joint development of mining and deep water oil exploration where the countries concerned will benefit.

Philippine policy in the South China Sea is grounded on an unwavering adherence to international law. It expects nothing less from our international partners. There is no place for bullies in the South China Sea or anywhere else in today’s world.

Rene S. “Butch” Meily
President

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