As tensions in the South China Sea continue to escalate, the need for the Philippines to strengthen its alliances with other countries in the region and beyond has become increasingly crucial. China’s aggressive actions in asserting its claims over the disputed waters pose a significant threat to the Philippines’ sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the country cannot afford to tackle this challenge alone. In light of this growing challenge, it is imperative for the Philippines to seek the support of allies to counter China’s actions and safeguard its interests in the region.
By strengthening alliances with key partners in the region and beyond, the Philippines can enhance deterrence capabilities, increase diplomatic leverage, and uphold the rules-based international order in the South China Sea. It is only through collective action and cooperation that the Philippines can effectively counter China’s aggressive behavior and secure a peaceful and stable future for the region.
Senior Philippine and U.S. officials gathered in Washington for the 11th Philippines-United States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) on April 22 and 23, where notably, both countries renewed pledges to work together to address pressing global and regional challenges in support of a free, safe, and open Indo-Pacific. First held in 2011, the BSD serves as the main annual platform for the two countries to discuss the full range of political, security, and economic cooperation; exchange views on current challenges and strategic priorities; and identify new collaborative initiatives.
In this 11th edition of the BSD, in keeping with the “shared vision of partnership, peace, and prosperity” of both Filipino president Marcos and U.S. president Biden, the two sides re-dedicated themselves to cooperation on issues of mutual interests, including on the South China Sea crisis.
During the BSD, the Philippines and U.S. also committed to enhancing operational cooperation and interoperability in the maritime domain, including with likeminded partners, through maritime cooperative activities, bilateral and multilateral exercises like the Exercise BALIKATAN, a combined maritime exercise with Japan and Australia in the South China Sea, and security cooperation coordination.
In reiterating their shared commitment to a maritime order based on international law, the two sides called upon China to comport its maritime claims in the South China Sea with the international law of the sea as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to respect the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction, to comply with the final and binding July 12, 2016 judgment in the Philippines v. China arbitration, and to cease its aggressive and dangerous actions that are inconsistent with its obligations under the Convention, including its unlawful interference with the Philippines’ freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
Both countries also reiterated the importance of the security alliance and shared commitments under the Mutual Defense Treaty in an increasingly complex security environment.
The Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the U.S. was signed on August 30, 1951 by their representatives in Washington, D.C. The treaty has eight articles and requires both nations to support each other if another party attacks the Philippines or the United States.
Biden has pledged on April 11 to defend the Philippines from any attack in the South China Sea under the Mutual Defense Treaty, when he hosted the first joint summit with Philippines and Japan amid growing tensions with China. The summit came after repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea, where China claims almost the entirety of it. The presidents of the Philippines, U.S., and Japan hailed the meeting as “historic” and indicated that their alliance is a bedrock of peace and democracy in the region.
The South China Sea is a strategically vital waterway through which a significant portion of global trade passes. It is also rich in natural resources, making it an area of great economic importance for countries in the region. However, China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, as evidenced by its construction of artificial islands and military buildup in the area, have raised serious concerns among neighboring countries, including the Philippines.
The Philippines, as one of the claimant states in the South China Sea dispute, has found itself in a precarious position as it seeks to assert its own claims while facing a powerful and belligerent China. In recent years, China has become increasingly assertive in its efforts to assert control over the South China Sea, disregarding international law and the rights of other claimant states. China’s aggressive actions, including the militarization of artificial islands, harassment of foreign vessels, and interference with freedom of navigation, have raised alarm bells among countries in the region and beyond.
The Philippines, with its limited military capabilities, is ill-equipped to confront China on its own. As such, it is imperative for the Philippines to build strong alliances with other countries in the region and beyond to counter China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea. By working together with like-minded partners, the Philippines can strengthen its position in the dispute and send a clear message to China that its actions will not go unchallenged.
In addition to the U.S., the Philippines has looked to other allies in the region, such as Japan and Australia, to bolster defense capabilities and enhance diplomatic leverage in the South China Sea dispute. Both Japan and Australia have expressed concerns over China’s actions in the region and have demonstrated a willingness to work with like-minded partners to uphold the rules-based international order.
By forging strong alliances with other countries that share its concerns over China’s actions in the South China Sea, the Philippines can better position itself to defend its interests and contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. It is important to emphasize that building alliances to counter China’s actions in the South China Sea is not about provoking conflict or escalating tensions in the region. Rather, it is about upholding the principles of international law, promoting stability and security, and safeguarding the rights and interests of all countries in the region.
Photo credit: iStock/ maroke. Generic image of people in a meeting.
