Justice Carpio assesses the Philippines’ diplomatic approach to China, describing it as “unrequited love” that has failed to protect national interests in the West Philippine Sea and urging a principled, law‑based foreign policy instead.
Justice Carpio explains why raising the Philippine maritime case at the UN General Assembly matters: it provides an opportunity to rally global support for the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling, reinforce the rule of law, and strengthen diplomatic backing for the Philippines’ sovereign rights under UNCLOS.