Questioning Exclusivity

For the past three administrations now, the West Philippine Sea has been a subject of controversy. The Philippines, particularly, seems more keen to pursue bilateral agreements, even though it won the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague over the said sea zone in 2016 (de Guzman, 2023). Nonetheless, this does not seem to stop China from its pursuit of claiming sovereignty.

Mahadzir (2023) reports that the Republic of the Philippines has encountered heightened tensions with China in the South China Sea, specifically within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has documented observations of 48 Chinese fishing vessels, protected by warships, within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. This hostility suggests an increase in Chinese presence and operations. Moreover, the observations made by the AFP provide evidence of a growing pattern of Chinese fishing vessels, escorted by ships from the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). As such, this development has sparked apprehension on matters of sovereignty and territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea. Multiple times since then already, the United States has expressed its disapproval of China's coercive and hazardous operational conduct towards Philippine boats while reiterating its unwavering commitment to the alliance with the Philippines.

Through the establishment of frameworks for joint efforts, the establishment of goals, and the promotion of collaboration between nations, international accords, and conferences are critical in solving globalization issues. When these initiatives are taken into consideration, it becomes clear that although reaching a consensus on environmental issues is a significant achievement, the real challenge lies in the actual implementation of these agreements.

Nonetheless, the effectiveness of these accords is frequently hindered by the fundamental restrictions of international law, which functions without a centralized governing organization to oversee adherence. As seen in The Hague Tribunal’s decision on the West Philippine Sea, China makes it seem like the efforts there is just a waste as it would not exactly follow its ruling. This is a recurring problem since international law operates without a regulating entity. Consequently, the concept of state sovereignty is the foundation of international law, which gives every nation the ability to govern itself without interference from other nations within the international community. It truly shows that the lack of a comprehensive legal body that can enforce the commitments of governments or impose penalties for non-compliance is a significant obstacle that stands in the way of the implementation of international environmental agreements.

With that, the establishment of a global focus on environmental issues and the promotion of collaboration between nations is ultimately accomplished via the participation of international conferences and accords. Nevertheless, the tenet of state sovereignty in the field of international law indicates that the implementation of these treaties is dependent on the strategic determination and capabilities of individual nations to carry out their commitments. However, whether we like it or not, this is not the case. It is important to build stronger procedures to facilitate the fulfillment of plans, encourage more responsibility, and foster improved global cooperation to guarantee the attainment of worldwide environmental targets. This can include imposing economic pull-outs should it not be followed.

As a student who is working toward a degree in Applied Corporate Management, it is of the utmost importance to develop the skills that are necessary to make strategic decisions that take into consideration the environmental concerns of both individual nations and the global community. Given this, it is essential to have a complete understanding of the effects that environmental regulation has on business operations, as well as the necessity of aligning corporate strategy with global sustainability goals. To do this, it is necessary to acknowledge the relevance of corporations in addressing environmental and social challenges, and it is also necessary to anticipate that executives of firms should actively participate in contributing to the resolution of these issues.

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Sophia Isabel S. Cauilan

Topic: Environmental Factors