West Philippine Sea: The Filipino Fight for Sovereignty

If you were the current Philippine president or perhaps a diplomatic ambassador, what would be
your action if a foreign country is claiming and invading your territory despite previous
arbitration from the international community ruling in your favor? This is the present problem
being faced by our country as tensions between the Philippines and China continue to rise over
the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. The claim of our country to the West
Philippine Sea is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and has
been nearly five years since the Permanent Court of Arbitration has decided its arbitration award
in our favor. Would you allow someone to benefit from the prosperity that your property brings
instead of using it for our own development and progress? Likewise, we should not allow any
foreign powers to take advantage of the West Philippine Sea so that it will be the Filipino people
who would benefit from our territory for our national interest. It is high time for us to strengthen
our claim and assert our democratic, internationally recognized right on the West Philippine Sea
and to foster diplomacy and peaceful relation among the international community.