On July 13, 2013, the Philippines filed an arbitration case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Netherlands, against China’s increasingly assertive claims in the South China Sea...Show moreOn July 13, 2013, the Philippines filed an arbitration case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Netherlands, against China’s increasingly assertive claims in the South China Sea (SCS). Three years later, the Court awarded outcomes in favour of the Philippines, rejecting China’s nine-dash line sovereignty claims. As scholars provide different interpretations of China’s subsequent behaviour, this thesis contributes to such debates by examing China’s economic diplomacy towards the Philippines, understanding such tools to serve both political and economic objectives. Analyzing official government statements and contemporary news reports, it is found that China has applied economic diplomacy to both pressure the Philippines over SCS issues and to vigorously promote and improve bilateral economic relations. This has led to China’s economic diplomacy downplaying the significance of the PCA ruling while accentuating the importance of bilateral economic ties.Show less
