From the Editors
Much has happened in the last month.
President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, colloquially known as "Noynoy" and whose administration initiated the Arbitral proceedings against China under UNCLOS, has passed away last Thursday, June 24. FNI stands together with the country in mourning the passing of the former president. Despite its shortcomings, the initiatives of President Aquino's government contributed much to where the Philippines stands today, even equally confronting China before international law.
Not far from the issue of China, Beijing continues to test the patience of regional powers. It had, at one point, issued a warning that small groups (referring to the Group of 7 or G7) do not run world politics. US President Joe Biden is also not backing down by taking a snipe at Chinese firms as trade relations between the two major economies incrementally escalate. The possibility of Europe joining the US to economically compete against China remains an open-ended question and does not have an iron-clad outlook.
However, the case isn't the same of China in South China Sea. Various Southeast Asian countries are methodically increasing their maritime domain engagements against China, especially Malaysia and Vietnam. Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin, echoing President Duterte's speech at the UN, weighed on the arbitral ruling with finality. These unfortunately have not deterred China, as various reports show record-high numbers of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea - and China seems determined not to back down despite garnering international condemnation for its behavior in the seas.
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