Spratly Islands Dispute: A Test Case of Philippine Multilateral Diplomacy

Abstract

The Spratly Group of Islands (Kalayaan) is important for the Philippines because of several politico-military and economic reasons. The area was believed to contain vast reserves of oil and natural gas, as well as mineral and marine deposits. On-shore and offshore food supply and production in the country cannot cope with the rising demand of the country's rapidly increasing population. With the rapid depletion of resources in coastal waters due to over fishing, both legal and illegal, and destructive fishing practices by both local and residents and foreign poachers, the islands could serve as a good alternative source to meet the present demand as well as a promising solution to the impending food security problem of the country. Furthermore, marine resources in the area could be a valuable source of international reserves. It was estimated that 8% of the annual total world catch, amounting to $79 Billion, came from the South China Sea area. The area is also a major seal-lane of communication where more than half of all ocean cargo and merchant ships passes through. Hydrocarbon deposits will greatly help the country’s fledgling economy whose key industries are primarily dependent on imported oil. The Spratlys is estimated to hold about 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas, about 370 thousand tons of phosphorous and 105 billion barrels of oil. Militarily, the Philippines can't afford to have an area like the Spratlys whose proximity from the country is only 100-200 nautical miles to be used by any foreign, power like China as a military base. Many of the islands have large natural harbors and airstrips that can accommodate large number of troops. The Japanese during the WWII has proven this point. They used the area as base for the troops they deployed to the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. China can exploit the strategic value of the area, which is inimical to Philippine interests. The Philippines will not be able to properly secure its territorial sovereignty ifit will have pockets of foreign controlled waters within its territorial waters as a result of foreign ownership of all the islands in the Spratlys.