FINAL REQUIREMENT IN

GEOPOLITICS

Submitted by:
Michaela Kyle M. Diaz

Submitted to:
Professor Kiel Santos

MARCH 15, 2019

AIS 314
UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST
 Philippines debt from China

On May 12, the secretary of Budget and Management Benjamin Diokno estimated that
$167 billion would be spent for the ‘Build! Build! Build!’ project of President Rodrigo Duterte.
That could possibly increase to the current government debt of approximately $290 billion.

Loaning to the world bank, and to China as well, is a great opportunity for a new
construction and projects and increase the export sales. But on the other hand, it might get worse.
Since our dept is too high, there are negative effects that we might encounter like giving up some
infrastructures, or maybe our land, the political power, and currency exchange rates.

The exchange rates of currency might drop because of the debts. Since our country will be
borrowing more money, there is a doubt that we can’t pay it back. So, they will increase the rates
to be able help the locals. I am worried for the giving up the political power to China. What if we
also fall on the dept trap of China? Like what’s currently happening to Venezuela, where there are
people who’s starving and been killed because of anti-government riots.

Territorial Dispute Between China and Philippines

The Philippines have a conflicting territorial and maritime claims with China in Spratly
Islands. China claims that they own the Spratly Islands because of the U-shaped lines that
enclose the South China Sea. However, this dispute is not only between the Philippines and
China but also its neighbor countries: Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. On the other
hand, the Philippines claim is based on the right under the Law of Sea (UNCLOS).

Under UNCLOS, the Spratly Islands is still part of the Philippines and Filipinos have the
right to fish and get other resources such as oil and gas. But since the China took control of the
Panatag Shoal / Spratly Island in 2012 and built an artificial island in the Fiery Cross Reef, the
fishermen stopped fishing there.

I think, the political factors affect the trade activities. The amount of trade of products
between China and Philippines decreased, it also affects the economy of our country. Even so, it
rebounded quickly and it might even increased soon. However, industrisl equipment or raw
material trade between these two countries was not conflicted.
 How do two Global Cities affect each other?

The global cities that I choose is Manila and Seoul. Seoul, South Korea is popular in not
only in Manila but also in different cities/provinces in the Philippines. Their culture, food, music,
lifestyle, etc., is always ‘in’ in Manila. We openly adopt their culture through mass media and
internet. Their culture affects ours to the point that some teen-agers or pre-adults embrace it like
it’s theirs.

Some forget our culture, instead of studying Filipino, they study Hangul. They sometimes
hates when they heart Filipino songs/OPMs because it wasn’t ‘in’ anymore. They prefer listening
to K-pop.

I, myself is a K-pop fan, and I can say that I really like Korean music and goodies but I
always appreciate the beauty of our own culture. In my opinion, its only Seoul who affects Manila.
But Manila never affects Seoul. Well, maybe in terms of shows and concerts, K-pop always have
sold out concerts here in Manila because of the Halyu. But other than that, it was nothing. They
don’t know anything about Manila, or Philippines. They don’t know our rich and beautiful culture,
delicious cuisines, the friendliness and hospitality of the Filipinos.

With the use of media, and globalization, I hope that people will be able to know the beauty
of our county, not only the Koreans but all around the world.