Neil Cyril Fortuna

BSGE II
Contemporary World Quiz
1. What are the effects if the Philippines continue to hold and sustain its political relations with
China? Support your statements with facts.
- According to my research, The election of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016
has in fact changed the strategy and effects of this relationship.  Last year, this
relationship was described by the Huffington Post, as the most toxic in Asia, when
Duterte’s predecessor, President Aquino was in charge.   However, since President
Duterte took office last year, he has extended a hand of economic and political
cooperation to China, and his official visit to Beijing last October, was an economically
productive visit as it was formative in securing investment and credit line pledges that
amounted to approximately US$ 24 billion in business and trade deals for the
Philippines. However, what has attracted much international economic interest and
criticism has been Duterte’s position over the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea
maritime disputes, where he has recently stated that the Philippines cannot stop China
from building military and government facilities on the disputed shoals, although the
Hague-based International Arbitration Tribunal ruled in 2015 that the internationally
agreed Philippine Maritime Territory must be observed by China.  China opposed this
decision and has gone ahead in developing these shoals into permanent military and
government occupied bases.

 2. Can you give some ideas on how to jump start the economy of the Philippines after
(hypothetically speaking) the Covid Pandemic? Give concrete and realistic ideas.
- I think after this pandemic our country will be more strict because the virus will be still
here, I think social distancing and mask will be must because we dont know where the
virus is. Sanitation will be must also to secure cleanliness and covid free even if there are
vaccine we should practice cleanliness so that we are secure with the virus.

3. Should China be held accountable as well as liable to countries that were affected and
devastated by the Covid Pandemic, since it originated from them? Base your argument from
facts don’t use your pure emotion in reasoning.
- According to my research, Experts believe that China, which they claim has caused the
spread of the novel coronavirus around the world, should pay compensation for not
fulfilling its international obligations.   
Samuel Armstrong, a law expert at UK-based think tank the Henry Jackson Society, professor
James Kraska, a professor at the Stockton Center for International Law at the US Naval War
College, and Paul Miller, a professor at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service,
evaluated applicable international sanctions on China. 
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Armstrong said that China can be sued for COVID-19 and there
are as many as 10 possible legal avenues to make these claims.  
“These regulations require a country to report a pandemic scenario to the World Health
Organization (WHO) and share certain data within 72 hours. China’s apparent failure to uphold
this duty would be the core basis of any complaint,” he said. 
He stated that options vary across both domestic and international venues. 
“The key instrument of international law that any prospective plaintiff would seek to engage is
the International Health Regulations (2005).” 
Noting the complexity of calculating the economic damage from COVID-19, Armstrong said
quantifying the damage is difficult especially for developing countries and added that they
estimate at least a $4 trillion loss for G7 countries alone. 
“China will seek to ignore claims and resist jurisdiction where possible. China’s record at the
International Tribunal for the Law on the Sea is instructive. Here, China lost a case but
disregarded the verdict. In order for China to be held to account, the world will have to make it
less painful to comply than not to. Any legal claim will rely on states using economic and
security means to force China to the table,” he added. 

Contemporary World Activity

1. Make a commentary on the present issues in the Philippines. Include therein in you’re the
answer why you chose such issue.
Extrajudicial Killings
The Duterte administration’s “war on drugs” continued in 2018 and expanded into areas outside
the capital, Metro Manila, including to the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and the cities
of Cebu and General Santos.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), 4,948 suspected drug users and
dealers died during police operations from July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2018. But this does not
include the thousands of others killed by unidentified gunmen. According to the Philippine
National Police (PNP), 22,983 such deaths since the “war on drugs” began are classified as
“homicides under investigation.”
The exact number of fatalities is difficult to ascertain because the government has failed to
disclose official documents about the “drug war.” It has issued contradictory statistics and, in the
case of these “homicides under investigation,” stopped releasing the figures altogether.
Masked gunmen taking part in killings appeared to be working closely with police, casting doubt
on government claims that most killings have been committed by vigilantes or rival drug gangs.
Duterte has vowed to continue his anti-drug campaign until his term ends in 2022. In July 2018,
he again pledged to continue the “war on drugs,” saying “it will be as relentless and chilling as
on the day it began.”
Duterte has also vowed to protect police officers and agents carrying out the “drug war” from
prosecution. Except for a few high-profile cases, the killings have not been investigated.