AFFIRMATIVE
The Presidents strategy (independent foreign policy)
should be reconsidered because such strategy puts
our claim in the WPS (West Philippine Sea) in
danger.
The Presidents acts of cutting the countrys ties not
only with the US but also with the international
community puts our claim in WPS in danger because
the US and other foreign countries has long been the
allies of the Philippines. And with this independent
foreign policy that the President wants to implement,
obviously financial supports from the international
community which can help us in asserting our claim
in WPS would also be put in peril.
The Presidents act of not using and enforcing the
Permanent Court of Arbitrations decision is unwise.
This because he is putting into waste the efforts
poured to get such favorable decision for our country.
In fact, such decision can be a primary tool which the
Philippines may use in asserting its rights over the
WPS.
The Presidents strategy of not asserting our right
over the WPS or his silence over such issue and his
act of befriending China waives our sovereignty over
such territory.
NEGATIVE
The Presidents strategy (independent foreign policy)
should NOT be reconsidered because the President
has not cut any ties with any countries, especially the
US, as of the moment.
A good illustration of this would be the VFA and
EDCA which are still existing up to now. The
President may be limiting some of the countrys ties
with the international community. But still, he has
not made any concrete moves towards such cutting of
ties with the international community. As a result, he
is playing poker with other countries and he is
playing his cards well.
The Presidents act of not using and enforcing the
Permanent Court of Arbitrations decision is a wise
move. This is because enforcing such decision would
only put the countrys security in danger as enforcing
such decision would definitely cause war between the
Philippines and China.
Knowing the influence and capability of China, the
Presidents current strategy is very beneficial to the
countrys security.
The Presidents strategy of not asserting our right
over the WPS or his silence over such issue and his
act of befriending China is what caused the Filipinos
reclamation of Sovereignty over such territory.
After the Aquino administrations move of renaming
part of South China Sea into West Philippine Sea,
China started to dispatch ocean surveillance vessels
to patrol the area which led to the confrontation in
Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in April 2012.
Thereafter, Aquino challenged China in the Hague
Tribunal. That act of the former president in effect
caused the Chinese Coastguards to block Filipino
Fishermen from fishing in the Panatag Shoal. The
issue even escalated when joint military exercises
were staged by US and Filipino soldiers near the said
area. This prompted China to start big-scale
reclamation over the islands in the WPS.
Because of these acts, the Philippines lost its control
over the said islands. However, the current strategy
being implemented by the President won back such
sovereignty over the said islands. Now, the Filipino
fishermen are free again to fish over the WPS
(specifically the deeper waters of Scarborough shoal)
 KEY PLAYERS
1. Fishermen near the WPS
2. Militaries and Countrys Due to the current strategy of the President, several countries like Japan,
national security
3. Nation/ Filipino people
Since time immemorial, fishermen living near the Scarborough shoal
made a good living out of the natural resources found in the area,
specially the fishes. But this situation lasted until 2012 came and the
claims on WPS escalated.
But, on October 2016, Fishermen living near the Scarborough shoal
were able to fish again in the said area as the Chinese coastguards
monitoring the place are gone. This is one of the fruits of the Presidents
recent bilateral talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Not long after, President Duterte issued an executive order declaring the
lagoon in Scarborough shoal as a no-fishing zone as it is considered a
breeding area for various types of fishes. But the fishermen are still
allowed to fish on the deeper waters of Scarborough shoal. As of now,
they returned to their traditional way of living and their income
continues to grow.
In fact, the Filipino fishermen and Chinese Coastguards started their
year right as they were seen surveying the fishing sites in the province
of Guangdong in China together. Furthermore, China sent Filipino
fishermen to an educational trip and mentioned possible investments.
China and Russia have been offering loans, military equipment and
armaments to the Philippines to strengthen its defense. Recently, the
Philippines received a $14-billion grant from China which would be
used to buy 4 fast boats, 200 sniper rifles and several hundreds of rocket
propelled grenades for the military by the end of the year.
Also, according to the President, China and Russia have agreed to give
the country the softest loan which will be payable in 2025. This loan
would be used for the purchase of military equipment.
Because of these offers and grants, the Philippines defense would be
strengthened. In effect, this would help the country maintain its
sovereignty in the WPS.
The Presidents current strategy is beneficial to the Filipino people as a
whole. This is because his act of befriending China and his act of
setting aside the arbitral ruling in our favor is his manifestation of
saving the country from a more dangerous situation and that is, to go
into war with China.
The influence, economic stability and the capability of Chinas military
defenses is way beyond that of the Philippines. Obviously, the
Philippines is not yet ready to enter such arena. In line with this, the
Presidents acts of strengthening the countrys ties with China helped
the Philippines economy. Furthermore, since the Philippines has
become the center of attention of other foreign countries like Japan, US,
Russia and China, the country received certain offers and financial aids
which would be of much help to the countrys economy and sovereignty
over the WPS. In other words, such countries can be compared to
suitors which vehemently courts the Philippines. Thus, because of such
strategy made by the President, the country is now living up to its
description; indeed, the Philippines is now becoming the Pearl of the
Orient.