The Role of the UN in the Philippines-China Dispute on the West Philippine Sea
It has been a controversial and ongoing issue with important geopolitical consequences
between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea. The United Nations (UN) has been
important in attempting to peacefully resolve the issues, defend international law, and protect the
interests of the Philippines during this disagreement.
The West Philippine Sea issue between the Philippines and China has been aggressively
addressed by the UN through a number of channels and bodies. The United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which establishes a legal structure for maritime conflicts and
specifies the rights and obligations of coastal governments, is one of the main pillars directing
these efforts. In 2013, the Philippines filed a UNCLOS arbitration claim against China in order to
have the validity of China's claims in the South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine
Sea, determined. The arbitration procedure was greatly assisted by the Permanent Court of
Arbitration (PCA), which functions under the authority of the UN. The PCA delivered a historic
decision in the Philippines' favor in July 2016, dismissing China's broad "nine-dash line" claim and
upholding the country's rights inside its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The arbitration
procedure, which was backed by the UN, offered a peaceful way to settle the conflict and
respected the rule of international law. It's important to remember that China disagreed with the
decision and is still laying claim to territory in the West Philippine Sea.
In addition to the legal route, the UN has supported diplomatic talks and consultations between
China and the Philippines. Despite the fact that these measures did not fully resolve the conflict,
they did encourage diplomatic methods for de-escalating and dialogue. Additionally, the UN
sponsored the creation of a Code of Conduct (COC) for parties in the South China Sea with the
purpose of easing tensions and promoting stability. This was done through groups like the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Despite the UN's significant efforts, there are still a number of issues with the PhilippinesChina conflict in the West Philippine Sea. A major barrier to a peaceful decision is China's ongoing
rejection of the PCA decision. Tensions in the region have increased as a result of China's military
presence in the area and its assertive measures, such as the creation of artificial islands and the
defensive positioning of certain features. Additionally, it is difficult to find a complete settlement
because of the geopolitical complexity of the West Philippine Sea conflict and the overlapping
territory claims of several parties. The interests of the United States and other major world powers
significantly influence the conditions of the conflict.
In conclusion, the United Nations has been helpful in resolving the China-Philippines issue in
the West Philippine Sea, particularly through diplomatic and legal means. The PCA's assistance
of the UNCLOS arbitration procedure provided an important court case that supports the rules of
international law. However, persistent issues, such as China's disapproval of the decision and its
strong tactics, highlight how complicated the situation is. To resolve the ongoing war peacefully
and professionally going ahead, global engagement and diplomacy must continue with the
backing of the UN and regional organizations.
References:
Permanent Court of Arbitration. "The South China Sea Arbitration (The Republic of the
Philippines v. The People's Republic of China)." PCA Case No. 2013-19. https://pcacpa.org/en/cases/7/
United Nations. "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."
https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf
Associated Press. "China Rejects Ruling in South China Sea Case." The New York Times,
July 12, 2016. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/world/asia/south-china-sea-hagueruling-philippines.html
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines. "The Philippine Chair's Statement
on the ASEAN-China Consultations on the Code of Conduct." August 9, 2021.
https://www.dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/statements-and-advisoriesupdate/31186-aseanphilippine-chair-s-statement-on-the-asean-china-consultations-on-the-code-of-conductaugust-9-2021
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