2 new books on treaties, territory chart PH foreign policy
As geopolitical competition intensifies and disputes over sovereignty, territory and maritime rights increasingly test the international order, the Philippines is putting renewed emphasis on international law and treaties as enduring anchors of its foreign policy.
Two new books documenting Philippine treaty commitments and state practice in international law were launched on Tuesday, August 11, offering policymakers and diplomats timely references as Manila navigates an increasingly complex international environment.
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro described the books as “remarkable contributions to the DFA and the legal and diplomatic community.”
Published by the University of the Philippines Law Complex, Philippine Foreign Relations Law: State Practices, Policy Advocacies and Perspectives was written by Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya, while Philippine Treaties in Force 2025 was edited by Malaya with Third Secretary and Vice Consul Crystal Gale Dampil-Mandigma and Attaché Kieren Batiles of the Philippine Embassy in The Hague.
In remarks delivered on her behalf by DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, Lazaro underscored the importance of legal continuity even as governments and geopolitical circumstances change.
The books, she said, “remind us that while administrations and diplomatic approaches may change, the enduring principles that guide our foreign policy, particularly those rooted in the Constitution and the rule of law, remain constant.”
“Together, these volumes stand as written evidence of the ebbs and flows of Philippine foreign relations and a testament to the dynamism of our democracy. They capture how our nation has navigated changing global realities while remaining faithful to the national interest and international commitments,” Lazaro added.
The message carries particular resonance as the Philippines seeks to defend its maritime rights and sovereignty through international law while simultaneously strengthening alliances, building new security and economic partnerships, and maintaining diplomatic engagement with competing powers.
Philippine Treaties in Force 2025 provides an index to some 1,850 international agreements entered into by the Philippines from 1946 to 2025, with online links to their full texts.
Philippine Foreign Relations Law, meanwhile, brings together Malaya’s writings and presentations on Philippine state practice in international law and his work with international legal institutions in The Hague, including the Hague Conference on Private International Law and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, whose Administrative Council he headed in 2023 and 2024.
“International law is deeply significant to Filipinos and the international community as it provides all of us the certainty of a common language to cooperate and the predictability of a common framework to resolve differences peacefully,” Malaya said.
“It is hoped that these books contribute to the documentation, understanding and deeper appreciation of Philippine State practice and engagements with international law. By portraying international law in action from the Philippine perspective, may it serve as a valuable reference for diplomats, government officials, lawyers, academics, law students, and the general public,” he added.
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno drew an even more direct connection between the publications and the country’s national interests.
“Sa pamamagitan ng mga librong ito, mas madali nating mauunawaan at magamit ang ating treaty law at foreign relations law. Mahalagang kasangkapan ito sa pagtatanggol ng ating pambansang soberanya, teritoryo at ng mga karapatan ng bawat Pilipino,” Diokno said in a recorded message.
The launch brought together more than 100 diplomats, senior government officials, judges, law school deans, academics and other guests.
At a time when power politics is again reshaping the international system, the two volumes underscore a longstanding Philippine diplomatic position: for a country navigating relations with much larger powers, international law is not simply an academic discipline — it is an instrument of diplomacy, national interest, and sovereignty.
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