THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PHILIPPINES’ COOPERATIVE MARITIME DIPLOMACY TO MANAGE CONSTRUCTIVE BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH CHINA IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE (2016-2018)

Abstract

This thesis explains about the Philippines’ cooperative maritime diplomacy implementation to China in the South China Sea dispute to protect the Philippines’ national interests. This thesis argues that in order to achieve the Philippines’ national interests, Philippines should be able to manage constructive bilateral relations with China. In order to support that, under Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, Philippines exercised an “equi balancing policy” which aims to balance the Philippines’ relations with the major powers: United States and China. This paper employs qualitative research methods in answering the research question. The main findings of this paper consists of three points; first is the implementation of the soft power building in the form of summit diplomacy (Duterte’s state visit), second is to elevate the confidence building in the form of Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) in the South China Sea and lastly, is the making coalition building in the form of Joint Coast Guard Committee (JCGC).