China and Philippines as the Most Influential Countries in Asia

Having a glimpse of how China being the greatest and far most fearsome threat since World War II to Philippines gave rise for China to begin with taking over West Philippine Sea. A great controversy between the two countries in keeping over 531,000 square kilometers which is West Philippine Sea or also known as the South China Sea. China emphasizes that Chinese activities along the South China Sea were done for 2,000 years ago. China discovered and named the reefs and islands within the sea, so therefore they concluded that they claim to have the South China Sea. As we know, China wants to claim West Philippine Sea with the abundant presence of natural resources such as: natural gases and oil, also in claiming power over the 9-dashed line claim of Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ that includes: Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia, 10-dashed line, and artificial islands.

Justice Antonio Carpio tackles about the 9-dashed line that contains the Exclusive Economic Zone. China is a strategic country that wanted to claim or hand on West Philippine Sea to increase its power without giving any of its claim. China has a background in interfering Philippine contracts and was reiterated in 2011. They were also caught harassing a Philippine ship over the extent of their power. As quoted by Carpio that “ China is in physical possession of the entire parcels, seven geologic features as the Spratlys, and Scarborough Shoal. These geologic features, and their territorial seas, constitute less than eight percent of the total area of the South China Sea.”. The effects under the 9-dashed line is that Philippines loses about 80% of Exclusive Economic Zone, an area in which the country claims full rights of fishing, drilling, and other economic activities, facing West Philippine Sea where active gas and oil field is found.

Carpio also pinpoints 10-dashed line, which is the national boundaries, written in note verbal in June 23rd to China that it is “ Strongly objects to the indication that the nine-dashed lines are China’s national boundaries in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.”. This is where and how China was highlighted as maltreatment for Filipino vessels and fisherman along West Philippine Sea. As Carpio stated that “ China nor Philippines doesn’t own West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.” But China still possess such an outranging power in governing Philippines. How the Chinese installed an oil rig and how the China demands to educate Philippines over the sovereignty over the seas by respect China’s territory through educating its fisherman and how the United Nations Convention on the Laws Of the Sea or abbreviated as UNCLOS emphasis the law about freedom in fishing that strictly investigate and punish those who abide or avoid fishing moratium.

China being a mass-producing destroyer given that they possess great money and power have the chance more likely to control over the West Philippine Sea. Inside my state of mind, I think that by China usage of economic and military purposes that they would claim all fisheries, oil, gas, and mineral sources to secure all methane hydrates and a sanctuary for nuclear armed submarines to protect maritime rights through offshore water defense and open sea protection. There had been a research about China being a mass-producing destroyer that because they broke the sea laws and even permanently destroyed a huge number of corals in human history. We all know that China wouldn’t fully follow the tribunal decisions and follow the rights and jurisdiction to all waters of the West Philippine Sea. But in the brighter side, China is the largest net importer of petroleum in the world and by that they are also one of the richest countries in the world.

As China express its great power, the Chinese Government came to a point in which they built buildings and other infrastructure in the West Philippine Sea creating artificial islands that would latter go in their favor. Given the fact that both Philippines and China co-own West Philippine Sea but China having the claim for the West Philippine Sea. They started building oil rigs and other structures so that once Philippine started asking for the claim China can blackmail or take advantage of the buildings they established back then. China’s main purpose of building along the West Philippine Sea is to improve the working and living conditions, to be able to conduct a maritime search and rescue, to be able to conduct a disaster prevention program, and to have a better service vessel.

As most people started questioning themselves if a state can claim historic rights, based on Justice Antonio Carpio that “ China is now claiming that historic rights is an exemption to the exclusive sovereign rights and coastal states in the EEZ!”. Carpio also points out based from his assumptions that historic rights can be claimed beyond the territorial seas. First, the state should exercise authority over the area where the law claims the historic right. Second, state should exercise authority continuously and for a period. Lastly, other state who doesn’t exercise will fail to oppose such authorities.

In conclusion, China nor Philippines doesn’t own West Philippine Sea, but both parties can team up and helped one another among their shared economy plus military power. Both countries could enjoy the freedom or the sovereignty of the rights and jurisdiction to all the seas.