Position Paper

DIRECTIONS: Create a position paper on the most efficient ethical framework/s for the
Philippines by identifying, selecting, researching on recent Moral Problems of the Philippines

with complete citations and references and applying one, two, or all of the Ethical Frameworks
to address those moral problems that you have researched. There are no maximum or minimum
page and format as long as you have presented well the content.
Territory Rivalry: West Philippine Sea
Tension in West Philippine Sea has been brought Philippines and China into
controversies. Many decades have been passed after the tension that China brought in
2012 Scarborough Shoal Standoff that is known as West Philippine Sea. Until now, territorial
rivalry between China and Philippines in West Philippine Sea is still in the hot seat that
should not be neglected especially the government. 2013 is the year where Philippines take
the action after China has intentionally want to take the Scarborough Shoal Standoff from
Philippines. Philippines already filed a case against China at the International Tribunal for
the law of the Sea (ITLOS) concerning maritime questions in the West Philippine Sea, but
the issue here is that Chinese ships are still in our property and currently, had built artificial
islands. Philippine government, especially President Duterte has still no further actions about
this issue that have been made chaos. Philippine Government is still in silence and
normalizing of what China’s doing in West Philippine Sea that should not happen and should
take its action to retake West Philippine Sea.
During the CNN Philippines Town Hall meeting, the 2016 elections, President Rodrigo
Duterte mentioned in his campaign speech that he would stop the expansion of China in the
West Philippine Sea and stated days before he assumed the presidency in June 2016, that
he would not surrender the country’s right over the disputed Scarborough Shoal in South
China Sea. It is clear that before President Rodrigo Duterte take his seat as a President, he
already made his stand about this issue that he would retake West Philippine Sea from
China. But, in his latest national address in the month of May, year of 2021, emphasized that
he never promised to retake the West Philippine Sea from China, instead emphasized that
we owe them gratitude. It is clearly expressed that President Rodrigo Duterte normalizing
China’s actions regarding in West Philippine Sea even though, National Task Force for the
West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reported that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) again drove away by the Chinese Ships
vessels that should be worry about because this is not the first time, probably not the last
time. There are some cases that already reported by the task forces that Chinese vessels
doing such illegal fishing and the latest controversial, they built artificial islands. But, then
again, Philippine government still not taking the legal action to stop China from its illegal
movement in Philippines’ property. China is considered as one of the most powerful country
when it comes to military, but this is not the excuse to stop and let them take away the
territory that Philippine owns. A lot of countries supported the Philippines in its case against
China and emphasize that the rule of law should prevail over acts of war in resolving
disputes. So, Filipinos especially government should stand and raise Philippines’ flag in
West Philippine Sea to let them know their limitations and let them understand that West
Philippine Sea is not theirs.
The government's actions should aim at the greatest good for the greatest number of
people, which includes Filipino citizens and their interests. By standing up against China's
encroachment in the West Philippine Sea, the government could uphold the rights and
interests of its people, ensuring their safety, economic benefits, and national sovereignty.
However, it also means assessing the potential consequences of actions carefully. Initiating
conflicts might result in negative outcomes, so finding peaceful and diplomatic resolutions
becomes crucial. Thus, the Philippine government has a duty to protect its territory and
uphold its rights as recognized under international law. Taking actions to defend the West
Philippine Sea is seen as fulfilling this duty. However, deontological ethics also stress the
importance of acting in a morally right way. This means that while defending territorial rights
is essential, the means by which it's done should align with ethical standards, avoiding
unnecessary aggression or harm.
In conclusion, Philippine government should not stop fighting for every Filipinos right
in West Philippine Sea, but it doesn’t mean that they will do it in an improper way. There are
things or ways that they can use as strategies to retake West Philippine Sea from China.
Those strategies doesn’t mean war, but warnings that China should see and understand
their limits and the law or rules between countries for the of sake of “peace”.
Anton Szandor LaVey once said, “When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone
bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.” Philippine government
should take its action and should have firm stand for Filipinos territory. Though the pandemic
is still in place, it’s not the reason to neglect this issue and let China take the territory that
Philippines own.

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DIRECTIONS: Create a position paper on the most efficient ethical framework/s for the

Philippines by identifying, selecting, researching on recent Moral Problems of the Philippines

Territory Rivalry: West Philippine Sea

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