In a paragraph of 5–7 sentences, describe another nation’s involvement in the conflict and critique their actions. Are their actions justified or unjustified? Legal or illegal? Moral or immoral? How does the evidence in your sources support your critique? in the Philippines,

Answer 1

As of my last update, one nation with notable involvement in the conflicts in the Philippines is China, particularly with regards to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China has laid expansive claims to the sea, marked by its "nine-dash line," and has engaged in island-building and militarization of the region, directly affecting the Philippines which has its own territorial claims in the area. The international community, referencing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), has largely critiqued China's actions as being legally unjustifiable, and in 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under UNCLOS ruled that China's claims have no legal basis. Despite this, China continues to assert its presence, dismissing the ruling, which undermines the rule-based international order and infringes upon the sovereignty of the Philippines.

Morally, many argue that China's actions could be considered immoral due to the aggressive nature of their territorial expansion and the disregard for international law, creating tension and potentially destabilizing the region. The evidence from sources such as the rulings of international courts, official statements from the Philippine government, and international diplomatic responses provides a ground for critique, indicating that while countries may have geopolitical and economic reasons for their actions, these do not necessarily justify the means, especially when they come at the cost of eroding international legal norms and the rights of neighboring countries.