Upholding the rule of law

Last Friday, March 31, 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared that the Government was “very serious” about upgrading our defense capabilities in “response to the growing complication of the situation” in the West Philippine Sea.

President Marcos Jr. further said that “we cannot say that this situation is cooling down. Perhaps, the best that we can hope for is to keep it as it is and, hopefully, continue to lessen the tension.”

We believe that any Filipino leader inevitably has to confront the serious and critical challenges confronting our nation with respect to the West Philippine Sea.

Nonetheless, as we have said before, there is but one anchor that will guide us in successfully resolving the situation, and that is the Rule of Law.

By faithfully abiding by the Rule of Law, one can only do right because a choice pursuant to the Rule of Law is supported by the Filipino people, the international community and our national interest.

The President has been taking proper steps in addressing the situation in the West Philippine Sea and we fully encourage him to continue to do so.

First, the President should continue in implementing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the US, by establishing the additional locations for defense cooperation in the Philippines. This will help in strengthening our security alliance with the US to advance a rules-based international order. With the help of our ally, this will also enhance our capabilities to deter aggressions against our sovereignty.

Second is the pursuit of joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea with likeminded allies like the US, Japan, Australia and members of the European Union. Joint patrols in our waters enforce the 2016 Arbitral Award by upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, and they show the world that China does not own the West Philippine Sea.

Third is to continue building our country’s defense posture by acquiring defense assets and exploring our recommendation of the operational lease of defense assets, as a cost-efficient means in building our country’s credible defense posture.

Fourth is a respectful recommendation for the President to include, as a consistent agenda in his foreign trips, to invite leaders of other countries in supporting the 2016 Arbitral Award, to show the world that no nation, however powerful, can unilaterally take over a territory or a body of water, contrary to international law.

Fifth is for our leadership to prepare for the United Nations General Assembly this coming September 2023 and take steps in sponsoring a resolution supporting the 2016 Arbitral Award. With the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the continuing Chinese aggressions in the South China Sea, the need for the international community to uphold the Rule of Law has become increasingly important.

We would like to state that there are no petty politics involved in pursuing these steps to address the “growing complication” in the West Philippine Sea, as these steps advance our national interest and are genuinely supported by the Filipino people.

As we have said before, follow the Rule of Law, Mr. President. You can be sure that Filipinos will be with you.

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Ambassador Del Rosario is chair of the Stratbase ADR Institute and former secretary of foreign affairs.