Tag Archives: UNCLOS

Julio S. Amador: Foreign policy likely to dominate Philippine presidential race

Foreign policy, while not usually an electoral issue in the Philippines, now looms large in the country’s politics. All five aspiring candidates for the May 9 presidential election have stressed their determination to improve the country’s international relations. There are some immediate challenges: A forthcoming ruling on the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China in the […]

South China Sea Dispute Looms Over Philippine Elections

Candidates struggle to balance tough stance on sovereignty with desire to mend ties with China MANILA—China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea is putting Philippine presidential candidates in a tricky situation, as they struggle to balance tough talk on national sovereignty with a desire to improve ties and boost trade with their country’s powerful […]

Who wins

Sunday’s first presidential debate held in Cagayan de Oro City trended online in the country and the world, and for good reason. It was that rare event—the last televised debate was 24 years ago—when all candidates gathered on stage, abiding by the same rules and limiting their supposedly elaborate platforms to just a few minutes […]

China: Rejection of the Philippines’ arbitration ‘in line with law’

Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China’s rejection of arbitration filed by the Philippines over terroritorial claims, is in line with the law. His remarks came after talks with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop in Beijing on Wednesday, as Australia called for a resolution to the South China Sea disputes through peaceful means, including arbitration. “China […]

If the next president withdraws our case against China, call him a TRAITOR

Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio advised the country’s next president to push through with the territorial dispute case before the United Nations-backed Arbitration Tribunal because withdrawing it would be catastrophic and a big blow against our Sovereignty and Constitution. In a open forum on the dispute on the West Philippine Sea Thursday night, Carpio was […]

The Geopolitical Stakes of the 2016 Philippine Elections

For almost four years now, the Philippines has been Southeast Asia’s fastest growing major economy. Once dubbed the “sick man” of Asia, the country’s image has enjoyed a turnaround under President Benigno Aquino III. The Philippines sovereign credit rating has been upgraded from junk to investment grade by all major credit rating agencies. Though still […]

Roxas on global threats: West PH Sea, resources, climate change, ISIS

MANILA, Philippines – In a country where voters are “worldier” and where millions are part of the global diaspora, where does the ruling political party’s standard-bearer stand when it comes to global issues? Manuel Roxas II enumerated the “biggest threats” to the Philippines as it faces territorial issues with its neighbors, stronger and more frequent […]

Duterte open to joint exploration with China in Spratlys

MANILA, Philippines – Davao City Mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte is willing to enter into a joint exploration for oil and gas in the Spratly Islands with China, provided that Beijing does not insist on its territorial claim over it. Speaking before businessmen and entrepreneurs in the Go Negosyo Talks “Meet the Presidentiables Series” […]

Philippines vs. China: Arbitral Claims under UNCLOS

Launching the Arbitral Case The arbitration, filed in accordance with the dispute settlement provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (“UNCLOS”) (Art. 287 and Annex VII (“Arbitration”), commenced on 22 January, 2013, when the Philippines served China with a “Notification and Statement of Claim” “over the maritime jurisdiction of the […]