Sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea have evolved into a process where international legal battles intertwine with military and diplomatic tensions. The conflict between China and the Philippines has become a multidimensional rivalry fought over maps and legal arguments.
China's Legal Arguments
According to Chinese media, Beijing rejects the Philippines' attempts to expand its maritime claims. A report by the Marine Strategy Institute under China's Ministry of Natural Resources, as reported by Xinhua, argues that Manila's claims since the 1970s to parts of Huangyan (Scarborough) and Nansha (Spratly) islands lack historical and legal basis. The report states that these moves exceed the limits of international agreements and threaten regional stability.
The 2016 Arbitration Ruling and the Dispute
At the heart of the dispute lies the 2016 arbitration ruling. While the Philippines embraces this ruling as a legal basis, China firmly rejects it. According to an analysis by Asia Times, the ruling was designed to clarify the application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Although the tribunal rejected the legal basis of China's 'nine-dash line' claim, it did not issue a final judgment on sovereignty.
China's state-run newspaper Huan Qiu, however, argues that the ruling lacks legal legitimacy, has been politicized, and complicates the dispute rather than promoting stability.
China's Response to Regional Alliances
The dispute is expanding to include regional actors. Maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines have drawn strong objections from China. According to China Daily, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that these negotiations violate international law and infringe on China's sovereign rights, particularly in waters east of Taiwan island.
Li Xiaolu, an academic from Wuhan University, emphasized that UNCLOS principles require that bilateral agreements do not prejudice the rights of third states.
Struggle on the Ground and in Diplomacy
China's response is not limited to verbal protests. According to China Daily, Chinese coast guard vessels conduct patrols and scientific research in disputed waters that Beijing says fall under its jurisdiction. Li Xiaolu noted that these activities fall within the exercise of legitimate jurisdiction under UNCLOS.
The same newspaper reported that Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said his country would take strong measures to protect its land sovereignty and maritime rights if provocative actions continue.
The Philippines' Strategy and China's Criticism
The Philippines, for its part, combines adherence to the legal framework with a strategy of strengthening security partnerships. Asia Times notes that Manila uses the 2016 arbitration ruling as a 'legal language' to garner international support, and that the ruling has become part of the diplomatic discourse with partners like the US and Japan.
According to Huan Qiu newspaper, this could further complicate the regional environment rather than calm it. The newspaper wrote that the Philippines is trying to reframe the dispute by presenting itself as the victim, while China emphasizes historical facts and the need to return to direct negotiations between the parties concerned.
According to Asia Times' analysis, while law alone does not definitively resolve disputes, it provides a framework used to legitimize policies and constrain the behavior of parties. The struggle between China and the Philippines has turned into a multidimensional rivalry involving international law, field mobility, alliance building, and a battle of narratives.
