The Philippines, despite a contentious history of relations, today has close ties with the United States, a relationship that could well be called an alliance. And due to its geographic location in the Pacific Ocean (it has access to the South China Sea, the Philippine Sea, and the Sulawesi Sea), the Philippines is playing an increasing role in the U.S. defense strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. In this context, the Philippines is of great importance for the US competition with China.
It is worth noting what the Philippines and China have disputed issues and how this affects their relationship. One of the main issues is the so-called “Nine Dash Line”. In the South China Sea there are Parcel Islands, their peculiarity is that if they are controlled, the state will be able to control the territory for 200 miles around the islands, which will allow to extract oil there (according to many experts there are some of the largest oil deposits in the world)[1] and control one of the most important trade routes in the world.
Therefore, these territories are claimed by the PRC, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. Beijing in 1948 delineated these territories as their own (this is called the “Line of Nine Dots”) and maintains that its rights over the sea are historical.
This issue not only causes conflicts in diplomacy, sometimes the disputed borders of a states can cause tensions between ships of both sides. Such a case occurred in December 2023 when a Philippine and Chinese ship collided near a disputed reef. Later, during a meeting between Xi Jinping and Biden, the issue was discussed and the two sides agreed to strengthen communication between the Chinese, US and Philippine fleets to avoid a recurrence of such incidents in the disputed waters.
The Philippines’ disputes with China, geographic location, and close ties with America make it a special case in the security context of the region. This is exemplified by the active enhancement of defense ties and the Philippines’ defense capabilities. It can be seen that the US, along with its allies, has begun to strengthen defense cooperation in the South China Sea.
On August 24, 2023, the militaries of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States conducted exercises involving warships in the South China Sea off the coast of Manila. From Japan, 2 destroyers were involved in the maneuvers, from the U.S. – a coastal combat ship, from Australia – an amphibious helicopter carrier, landing helicopter-carrying dock ship, Anzac frigate, and F-35A fighter aircraft. The Philippines sent a landing ship to the exercise. The purpose of the exercise was to enhance cooperation between the militaries of the four countries.[2]
It is also important to recall that Philippine authorities opened a new Coast Guard base to monitor the waters on Titu Island (Chinese name: Zhongyedao) in the disputed South China Sea. Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano has stated that the Philippines expects to continue joint patrols in the region with the U.S. and Australian militaries, and hopes to involve Japan in the patrols when Tokyo and Manila finalize negotiations on a security agreement.[3] The Philippines has also stated that it will continue joint patrols in the region with the U.S. and Australian militaries, and hopes to involve Japan in the patrols when Tokyo and Manila conclude negotiations on a security agreement. In context, an important fact is that the Philippines hopes to sign an agreement with Japan in the first quarter of 2024 that would allow for the deployment of military forces on each other’s territory.[4]
Australia and Canada are also planning to sign similar agreements for military deployment in the Philippine islands. In addition, the Japanese government has begun discussions on plans to transfer military equipment free of charge to countries of strategic importance to Japan under the approved Official Security Assistance (OSA) program. This list includes the Philippines. Among the equipment already transferred is a radar station to monitor China’s activities in the South China Sea. Australia is also actively joining in the transfer of military aid, with Australia providing drone equipment and training to enhance the Philippines’ maritime capabilities, as well as other military equipment.
Summarise facts about the strengthening of defense cooperation, the clash of interests between China and the Philippines, and the more global confrontation between Beijing and Washington, we can conclude that the Philippines is important in the geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific region. For the US and its allies, the Philippines is important in the context of increasing influence in the region and gaining new logistical routes. Considering the active strengthening of defense relations, the escalating disputes with China, and the overall U.S. plan to strengthen itself and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region, it is clear that in the near future we will see an increasing strengthening of this alliance and a greater role for the Philippines in U.S. foreign policy in the region.
[1] “Contested areas of South China Sea likely have few conventional oil and gas resources”, US Energy Information Administration, https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/, (Date of Accession: 03.04.2023).
[2] “Japan, U.S., Australia, Philippines conduct joint naval drills”, Kyodo News, https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/08/5262dc07e2af-japan-us-australia-philippines-conduct-joint-naval-drills.html, (Date of Accession: 26.08.2023).
[3] “The Philippines opens a new monitoring base on a remote island in the disputed South China Sea”, AP, https://apnews.com/article/south-china-sea-disputes-philippines-thitu-island-b19fe639fb1d2127a2d7a77adc59d6a9, (Date of Accession: 01.12.2023).
[4] “Philippines hopes to sign troops pact with Japan in first quarter, NikkeiAsia, https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/South-China-Sea/Philippines-hopes-to-sign-troops-pact-with-Japan-in-first-quarter, (Date of Accession: 16.01.2024).
