We fear because?

  On Tuesday, December 10, National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro sternly said ‘’The Philippines, along with its territorial domains, is ours.” The 1987 Philippine Constitution has it that we have sovereignty over the entirety to which our Exclusive Economic Zone occupies. 

The Philippines is so naturally rich that even reputable nations take a certain liking to our territories, take China for example. Our West Philippine Sea has been subjected to multiple claims of ownership from neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. 

This contested water has always been a great source of natural resources and a large contributor to international trade. Given its very beneficial standing, the ownership dispute has come to a point where the international court has to be involved. 

No need to fear though, for the Permanent Court of Arbitration has rejected China’s claims and called them off for having no legal basis. Even the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea supported the Philippines in this issue. We’re so backed up with laws and regulations that the only thing left is how our government utilizes these to our advantage.

           What’s the point of having all these legal bases if its implementation does not even scare off the Chinese Navy? Government officials have claimed that they’ve been working actively on improving the country’s naval force and sea vessels, and they've also made efforts to protect our Filipino fishermen. But doesn’t this show that we’re only keeping up with the situation instead of actually eradicating it? There are actions taken, that is a given, but such actions only make us cope. It doesn’t help us in claiming our ownership over the West Philippine Sea at all.

           You have the international courts at your back, you have your allied countries beside you, just how powerful would it be if we have the courage in front of us.