| الوصف: |
The article analyzes the rationale, context, and implications of the Philippines’ landmark arbitration case in the South China Sea. Specifically, it evaluates four important and inter-related issues: (i) the centrality of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to the peaceful management and, if possible, resolution of the South China Sea disputes; (ii) political and strategic factors, which convinced the Aquino administration to embark on a risky and uncertain legal warfare (lawfare) strategy against Beijing, which, in turn, vehemently opposed any third party arbitration vis-à-vis maritime and territorial disputes; (iii) the merits, outcome, and strategic implications of the Southeast Asian country's arbitration case on the broader geopolitical landscape in the region; and lastly, the divergent South China Sea strategy of the Duterte administration, which decided to soft-pedal and sublimate the arbitral tribunal award in favor of a dialogue-based resolution of the disputes. © 2018 Policy Studies Organization |