| ID | 137186 |
| Title Proper | Philippines confronts China in the South China Sea |
| Other Title Information | power politics vs. liberalism-legalism |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Castro, Renato De |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Using the Scarborough Shoal standoff between China and the Philippines as a case study, in this article I examine two approaches to addressing territorial disputes—power politics and liberalismlegalism. China, a major power, uses realpolitik to press its expansive claim in the South China Sea. The Philippines, a small power, adopts the liberal-legal approach that seeks to balance against China. During the standoff, China drove the Philippines out of the shoal, though stopping short of an armed clash, and effected a de facto occupation of the contested area. As a countermeasure, the Philippines filed a statement of claim with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The confrontation was a test of Thucydides's age-old aphorism that “the strong do what they have the power to do, and the weak accept what they have to accept.” |
| `In' analytical Note | Asian Perspectives Vol.39, No.1; Jan-Mar.2015: p.71-100 |
| Journal Source | Asian Perspectives Vol: 39 No 1 |
| Key Words | Liberalism ; Geopolitics ; Realism ; Power Politics ; South China Sea ; China ; Philippines ; Dispute ; International Tribune ; International Organization – IO ; China–Southeast Asia Relations ; China – Philippines – Relations |