INFORM

INFORM
AUGUST—SEPTEMBER 2014
AUGUST—SEPTEMBER 2014
BAJO DE MASINLOC
in the midst of the Philippine-China
Territorial Dispute
PRESIDENT XI JINPING
The Paramount Leader
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
What are the basis of
territorial claims?
PHILIPPINE MILITARY:
A Reciprocal
Approach
[THE PRESIDENT]
INFORM August—September 2014

2 INFORM August—September 2014

[Say What?]
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
One of my favourite
philosophies
came from Socrates
which goes like, “One
thing only I know, and
that is that I know
nothing” -- for this is
the truth in everything
that’s happening
around us. People often
live by prejudice and
uninformed judgment. This is why in this best
ever issue of Inform Magazine, people will not
only get ideas of what’s truly happening but they
will be equipped of the how’s and why’s as well!
Isn’t it INFORMAZING?!
Of course this wouldn’t be possible without the
hardworking individuals that we have on our
team. A deep acknowledgement to the exemplary
works of my writers: Mc Joren Banzon, Ericka
Salazar, Joey Tabalno and Ky Medina. It is always
so exhilarating to be working alongside
these nerdy fellas for they always find a way to
challenge the internal workings of our idle brains.
EDITOR IN CHIEF:
Mark Belarmino
EDITOR:
Mc Joren Banzon
LAYOUT & ART DIRECTOR:
Joey Tabalno
WRITERS:
Mark Belarmino
Mc Joren Banzon
Ky Medina
Ericka Camille Salazar
Joey Tabalno
To my best pal, who had been so patient
in organizing the ambiguities of every issue, who
allotted his precious time to navigate every single
corner of our research – A large applause for our
magazine’s dearest consultant, Mr. Antonio Pedro!!
(*clap clap)
Kudos! And let the landslide of information
begin!
- Mark Belarmino
3 INFORM August—September 2014

[WORLD EXCLUSIVE]
Bajo De Masinloc in the midst of
the Philippine-China Territorial Dispute
By Mc Joren R. Banzon
According to a study done by Lowell (2013) Bajo De Masinloc or Panatag Shoal (Filipino
term);Scarbourough Shoal (English term); Huangyan Dao (Chinese term) is a territory located at 124
nautical miles from the nearest cost of the Philippines and 465 nautical miles from the nearest coast
of China. It is approximately situated at the latitude 15°08’N and longitude 117°45’E. The territory
has a geographical picturesque whichinvolves an atoll of reef and rocks. In China, having a coral reef
formation including a lagoon encircled by rocks, Bajo De Masinloc is considered as the largest atoll in
the South China Sea. Particularly, the rocks are about 3 meters high above water wherein five of
which are visible when high tide happens while others are submerged.
Accordingly, Lowell states that this territory provides livelihood to the Filipinos, particularly
the fishermen residing at the west of Zambales which is 124 nautical miles from the shoal itself. Ergo,
these fishermen consider Bajo de Masinloc as a vital part of their lives. Considering the fact that
it is home to breeding and feeding of various oceanic creatures, theannual potential yield of 5,021
metric tons of resources from the shoal alone supports this very fact. On the other hand, China perceives
Bajo de Masinloc as an integral part of an area the country named as Zhongsha Qundao. The
mentioned area is considered as an archipelago located at the northern part of the South China Sea.
It is basically comprised of a number of different territories including most part of Bajo de Masinloc.
However, excluding the five rocks which are not submerged during high tides. For China, the ownership
of this particular territory is fatal due to the fact that it plays a vital role in the general ownership
of China with respect to the South China Sea. Losing sovereignty over the said territory limit
chinese operations in terms of fisheries and maritime activities.
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With the colliding application of sovereignty from both countries, the dispute
on Bajo de Masinloc undoubtedly deteriorates. Evidently, there are lingering
interests in gaining the mentioned archipelago coming from both parties. The scarcity
of resources comes in to the picture for the issue involves land and seas territories.
In line with this, the government of each nation are forced to create necessary
actions, procedures and behaviors so as to fulfill their interests with respect to the
claim of the shoal. Hence, with the prevailing dispute in the aforementioned territory,
the scarcity of resource involved in it and the inquiry of ownership leads for geopolitics
to happen which then further supports the presence of an intense competition
between the two countries. Indeed, the choices and decisions will be made by
the two countries directed to the existing issue. This then will be binding to different
individual or even to groups with varying degrees of impact. With these events on
hand, the territorial dispute on Bajo de Masinloc is undoubtedly political in nature.
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[THE PRESIDENT]
WHAT,
WHY
AND
HOW
By Joey L. Tabalno
8 INFORM August—September 2014

The Philippines and China is
currently having a tension for almost
two years because of the overlapping
claims in the South China Sea including
the Bajo de Masinloc or the Scarborough
Shoal. The two countries have
their own reasons and basis on how
the disputed territory should be their
own. The Presidents of these two
countries play a big role in this case
because they are the head of their
country and have the power to influence
the future impacts of this issue.
The Philippine President, Benigno S.
Aguino III, is making a loud noise in
the international scene -- making interviews
with international media talking
about the said issue and providing solutions
for the territorial dispute.
“
At what point do you say, ‘Enough is enough’?
Well, the world has to say it – remember that the
Sudetenland was given in an attempt to appease
Hitler to prevent World War II
For the past two years, President
Benigno S. Aquino III is aggressive
in its action regarding the territorial
dispute in South China Sea versus
China. This includes the modernization
of the military forces of the Philippines
that is strengthening the guarding of
the territory. However, the president
actions include also of creating sympathy
for the Philippines in international
arena and forming alliances with countries
that have the same interests contrary
to China.
Before departing for the 24 th
Association of Southeast Asian nation’s
summit in Myanmar, President Benigno
S. Aquino III said that he would raise
his country’s territorial dispute with
China and call for support to resolve
the conflict through international arbitration.
He also added that the dialogue
between two countries is not
enough to settle issues that also affect
others in the region. President Aquino
also conducted a meeting with the U.S.
President Barrack Obama and tackles
the said issue in which the U.S. President
said that the United States and
the Philippines would consult closely
together.
These actions explain the strategic
use of resources of President Benigno
S. Aquino. He knows that the
Philippines cannot compete with hand
by hand combat in the military force of
China. He also understands that the
best option of coming out successful in
this territorial dispute is to appeal to
international law. He used the Association
of Southeast Asian nation to gain
sympathy and help in neighboring
countries. Forming this kind of alliance
with countries that has also territorial
dispute against China can increase the
power of putting pressure to China to
resolve the issue in international arbi-
”
tration. He also uses the strong ties
between the Philippines and the United
States in solving the issue in his prefer
way.
With a small country like the
Philippines, this country’s president is
making a loud noise regarding this issue.
This can be associated to his interest
as the President of the Philippines.
In Aquino’s 90 – minute interview
to the New York Times at the
Presidential palace, he made his controversial
remarks and said, “At what
point do you say, ‘Enough is enough’?
Well, the world has to say it – remember
that the Sudetenland was given in
an attempt to appease Hitler to prevent
World War II.” He compared the
Philippines condition with the fortune
of the Sudetenland – the Northern,
southwestern and western areas of
Czechoslovakia occupied mostly by
Germans – which fell into the hands of
Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany in 1938
after the Western nations unsuccessful
to back the Czech government. This
shows that Aquino is aware that the
9 INFORM August—September 2014
dispute with China could affect his administration
in major economic and
security concern. If nothing is done to
solve the dispute now it would be hard
for the Aquino administration in dealing
with it in succeeding years where
China can possibly have infrastructure
in disputed territory. The action of
President Aquino is coinciding to his
interest of maintaining a good administration.
The issue against China can
create blockage in the improvement of
the Philippines in his administration.
This blockage can be a barrier to his
vision and can make bad impression of
the Filipinos to him if he will not take
actions in the issue. Therefore, this
interest can be the basis of the aggressive
actions and claims in the disputed
territory of the President
of the Philippines.
The Philippine President
knows that it is
his responsibility to
take actions in this
issue. His actions will
reflect the capacity
and power of his administration. His
actions can also give good or bad impression
to the Philippine society. It is
the Philippine President interest to
leave a good mark in his administration
and he doesn’t want the Philippines
to become the modern Sudetenland
during his administration. However,
with the current military capability
of the Philippines, opposing the China’s
military forces is not an option. He understands
that resources that he can
only use are the multilateral negotiations
over the territorial dispute and
the support on its alliance like the
United States and other claimant’s
countries in South China Sea.

10 INFORM August—September 2014