China poses a threat to the security of the Philippines, Victor Andres Manhit, political scientist and head of Philippine-based consultancy Stratbase Group, told the English-language website Deutsche Welle (DW). Marcos accepts that “we live in a multipolar world and that in this world he has to exchange ideas with countries that can serve the national interests of the Philippines,” continued Manhit.
The Philippines is Washington’s oldest contractual partner in the region. More recently, however, the relationship has cooled considerably during President Rodrigo Duterte’s tenure. Not just Duterte’s bloody fight against drug crime, but also his close ties to China have been a thorn in Washington’s side.
Portal/Kimimasa Mayama Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Expert: Marcos ‘trying to keep his balance’
At times, Duterte canceled an important defense pact with the United States, but later reversed that decision. Since his election last year, new President Marcos Jr. has been trying to narrow relations again. But he also has to deal with superpower China on his doorstep.
Aries Arugay, head of the Political Science Institute at the University of the Philippines Diliman, said Marcos puts Philippine security interests at the center of foreign policy. “I think he’s trying to keep the balance for now, I’m not entirely convinced he’s going to be pro-US and anti-China right away,” Arugay told DW.
Portal/Lisa Marie David Marcos, predecessor of Rodrigo Duterte
Manhit also believes Marcos is “smart” when it comes to geopolitical ties. “It will remain open to China, more to the economy,” said the political scientist. The Philippines is not against China, Chinese companies are here. He thinks Marcos is a smart politician. He saw how it works. “Marcos was pro-China when he was governor of Ilocos Norte province because the main country of origin for tourists was China,” said Manhit.
China’s claim unfulfilled
China claims the entire strategically important group of Spratley Islands, while Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines claim parts of the islands. There are military garrisons on many of the uninhabited islands.
Graphics: APA/ORF; Source: APA/BBC/Independent
In the entire South China Sea, China claims 80% of the resource-rich sea area with important sea lanes. The International Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejected the claims in 2016. Beijing ignores the verdict. The area is also a hot spot for US-China relations.
China’s “Aggressive Activities”
In the South China Sea, there are always incidents due to territorial conflicts – increasingly between China and the Philippines. The Philippines wants to counter China’s “aggressive activities” in the South China Sea.
A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aircraft recently flew over the South China Sea. With these flights, the Philippines wants to strengthen its presence in the waters and militarily protect the maritime areas of its domain. The PCG said it saw a Chinese Coast Guard ship and dozens of boats believed to be Chinese. These were the Second Thomas Shoal and the Sabina Shoal. The two reefs are within the 200-mile boundary of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Portal/Erik De Castro A Philippine warship
Data released by the Washington-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative in late January showed that the Chinese Coast Guard patrolled near the Second Thomas Shoal for 279 days in 2022, Asia News Network reported.
Philippines: China attacked with military laser
In mid-February, the Philippines accused China of carrying out a military laser attack on one of its coastal defense ships in the South China Sea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially lodged a protest at the Chinese Embassy in Manila. The Chinese Coast Guard’s actions constituted “a threat to Philippine sovereignty and security as a state,” the complaint said.
Some crew members of the “BRP Malapascua” were temporarily blinded by the laser beam, the coast guard announced. She spoke of a “blatant disregard for the sovereign rights of the Philippines”. The incident reportedly happened on February 6 near Second Thomas Shoal. The underwater reef is part of the Spratly Islands. A transport ship stranded in World War II is used as an outpost by the Philippine military.
diplomatic disorder
The “Malapascua” was escorting a Philippine Navy ship that was to bring food, supplies and new personnel to the outpost. As a result of using the laser, the ship was forced to leave the area again. Philippine Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Teresita Daza said the incident happened just a month after Marcos visited Beijing. Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to “manage maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue, without resorting to violence and intimidation”.
AP/Xinhua/Yue Yuewei Marcos during meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping
Cooperation with Australia must be strengthened
The Philippines is trying not only to expand its relationship with Japan, but also to strengthen cooperation with Australia. The theme: How to neutralize China on the strategically important waterway.
At the meeting in the Philippine capital of Manila, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and his Filipino counterpart Carlito Galvez agreed to meet more often and deepen security relations. There was talk of joint patrols in the South China Sea. “As countries committed to the rules-based global order, it is clear that we must think about how we can cooperate in this regard,” says Marles.
Chinese warship AP/Fareed Khan on maneuver
More US bases in the Philippines
The United States and the Philippines also wanted to resume their joint patrols in the South China Sea, it was said in early February. A maneuver with the US is also planned for the spring. Meanwhile, the US secured access to four more military bases in the Philippines in early February. A corresponding agreement was reached during a visit by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to the island state. In a joint statement, Manila and Washington said four new bases would be added to the 2014 Deep Defense Agreement (EDCA).
So far, the deal has given US forces access to five Philippine military bases where troops can be deployed on a rotating basis. “EDCA’s expansion will make our alliance stronger and more resilient and accelerate the modernization of our joint military capabilities,” the statement said. The new locations would also allow for faster support from the contractual partner in the event of humanitarian or climate disasters in the Philippines.
Beijing: threat to “peace and stability”
Beijing immediately condemned the expansion of the US military presence in the Philippines as a threat to “peace and stability”. It is an act “that endangers regional peace and stability,” said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. The US “selfish agenda” would lead to an escalation of tensions. Other states in the region must “remain vigilant” and not allow them to be taken advantage of, she said.