NATIONALISM

DISPUTE BETWEEN
PHILIPPINES AND CHINA
WHAT IS THE DISPUTE
ALL ABOUT?
Relations between the Philippines and
China have been mostly friendly and
amicable over the years. However, in
recent years, both nations have suffered
a "cooling down," reaching a low point
since the start of diplomatic ties in June
1975.

WHAT LED TO THE

DISPUTE?

The war in the Western Philippine Sea (also

known as the South China Sea) between
China and the Philippines is the consequence
of years of the territorial dispute over the
Spratly Islands, a collection of 7,500 islands
and reefs claimed by numerous countries.

WHAT DID THE GOVERNMENT

OFFICIALS FROM THE DISPUTING
COUNTRIES DO TO ADDRESS THE
PROBLEM?

The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest

after a chartered ship searching for oil and
gas in Reed Bank near the Spratly Islands
complained of being harassed by two
Chinese patrol boats, forcing it to change
course.

HOW WAS THE CONCEPT AND

SENSE OF NATIONALISM
OBSERVED IN THE DIFFERENT
MEASURESADDRESS THE
DISPUTE?

According to the Permanent Court of Arbitration,

China has no legal basis for claiming much of the
South China Sea and has exacerbated the
regional dispute through land reclamation and
the construction of artificial islands, which have
destroyed coral reefs and the natural condition
of the disputed areas. The Philippines, which
requested the arbitration judgement, applauded
the decision, but China flatly rejected it.