The pursuit of a “public diplomacy campaign” spearheaded by the Department of Foreign Affairs to bolster and sustain awareness on the implications of the historic arbitral ruling on the South China Sea is certainly a step in the right direction. It ought to solidify local and international support for the 2016 landmark Arbitral Award that recognized the sovereign rights of the Philippines to exclusively explore and develop the natural resources in our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Getting everyone to understand and support the WPS ruling. (2022, October 4). Manila Bulletin, p. 4