Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! South China Sea Sino-Philippine Affairs and Strategies to Secure Filipino Claims

Abstract

The South China Sea Dispute is one of the most complex and enduring sovereignty conflicts in modern geopolitics, involving multiple Southeast and East Asian nations, as well as external powers like the United States. The dispute centers on competing claims over maritime boundaries, resource-rich geographic features, and access to vital fisheries, hydrocarbon reserves, and shipping channels. Among these regional players, the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China stand out for their particularly contentious relationship, marked by frequent confrontations and aggression over overlapping sovereignty claims that have yet to be resolved. This thesis examines the Sino-Philippine dimension of the South China Sea conflict, focusing on historical context, legal frameworks, and geopolitical strategies. It explores China’s expansive claims under its nine-dash line policy and reliance on historical rights in contrast to Philippine reliance on international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling in its favor. The study incorporates comparative case analyses of Vietnam and Malaysia to inform policy recommendations focusing on the Vietnamese strategy of self-reliance anchored in the “Four Nos” doctrine and Malaysian three-prong approach. This thesis proposes frameworks for Philippine action that prioritize fostering independent development, reinforcing physical and legal resilience, and strategically deepening multilateral alliances. These strategies collectively aim to secure Philippine claims, stabilize South China Sea activity, and advance equitable conflict resolution grounded in international law.