One year since the results of the Philippines’ case against China was handed down in The Hague, the country has embarked on an unexpected strategy to ensure stability in the South China Sea. The administration has diversified its partnerships, extended a hand of friendship to China, and jumpstarted discussions on the long-delayed Code of Conduct, with the intention of delivering a non-binding Framework Agreement for the region by the middle of this year.

Over the same period of time, Filipinos nationwide have debated the best ways to understand and protect the national interest. Despite this debate, we have not yet established a national consensus on the best path forward for our country.

In service of the national debate and in light of the one-year anniversary of the Arbitral Tribunal’s ruling, the Stratbase ADR Institute (ADRi) held a forum on July 12, 2017, entitled “The Framework Code of Conduct, One Year After Arbitration” to take stock of the Philippine experience in the past twelve months and consider the country’s possible steps forward. Among the speakers were Stratbase ADRi Chairman Albert del Rosario, Stratbase ADRi President Dindo Manhit, Hon. Roilo Golez, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Prof. Jay Batongbacal, Mr. Koichi Ai, and Dr. Ginnie Bacay-Watson.

Photos of the event may be viewed here.