The Philippines is a country located in Southeast Asia and located east of the South China Sea. At the same time, the country is in a very important geographical position, as it is located in the west of the Pacific Ocean.[1] As a matter of fact, its proximity to the South China Sea, Taiwan and China makes the Philippines an important actor in the eyes of the United States of America (USA) at the point of containment China. Because, this important geopolitical position of the Philippines has made the Philippines vulnerable to dangers in context of China. Due to this situation and Beijing’s increasingly proactive policies, the Philippines is getting closer to the West in a cyclical sense.
Moreover, the borders between the parties are getting sharper in the Asia-Pacific Region. For this reason, the environment of consensus is gradually moving away and an atmosphere in which everyone should choose their side begins to prevail. In a context where the security conjuncture has become so fragile, it can be said that the Philippines has chosen the West as an ally. There are many examples that can be examined in this context.
First, there were news that Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., who became the President of the Philippines in December 2022, will visit Japan in February 2023. It is also stated that this will be Marcos’ first visit to Japan.[2] Considering Tokyo’s Western-based global perspective, being accepted as a non-permanent member of the United Nations General Assembly and hosting the G7 Summit, it can be said that Tokyo’s Western alliance constitutes an important pillar in the region. Because in this case, the positive dialogue that the Philippines will develop with Japan will bring Manila closer to Washington’s line.
In addition, the Philippines also expresses its concerns about the South China Sea. For example, on December 20, 2022, the Philippines Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the country is “seriously concerned” by China’s activities in the South China Sea. At the same time, the Philippines said that China violated international law in the region and violated the status of the region.[3] As a matter of fact, it is known that the pressure to be felt on Beijing over the South China Sea issue is one of the aims of the West in the region.
However, on January 20, 2023, the USA and the Philippines expressed common security concerns due to the disagreements over the South China Sea and expressed their opinion on the establishment of a defense alliance between the parties. In the statement, it was emphasized that Washington and Manila had agreed to “revive cooperation in the field of defense and security and strengthen relations to face new challenges”.[4] In this context, the establishment of a cooperation with the USA on the South China Sea issue has revealed that Washington considers the Philippines as an important actor in the containment policy which has tried to be used against China.
On the other hand, it is of great importance that the Philippines turns to Japan to strengthen its presence in the South China Sea and tries to develop a cooperation with Tokyo. At this point, the news that the Philippines will buy five large patrol ships from Japan and that it will cooperate for the construction of a new pier and headquarters is noteworthy.[5] Because this move is a suitable move to increase the tension on the South China Sea. Moreover, the fact that this ship purchase is made with Japan may create an extra uncomfortable situation for China.
In addition to all these, it is very important that the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin, pays a visit to South Korea and then the Philippines on January 29, 2023, and calls for increasing defense partnerships with the US with the emphasis on regional stability.[6] As a matter of fact, it is known that South Korea is an important ally of Washington on a regional scale. At the same time, considering the exercises carried out in partnership with Washington, Seoul and Tokyo, the visit of the US Secretary of Defense to South Korea and the Philippines can be interpreted as Manila fully internalizing acting with Western actors.
Moreover, after this visit, on February 2, 2023, in a joint statement made by Philippine Defense Minister Carlito Galvez and Austin, it was stated that the Philippines gave the United States access to four more military bases.[7] The US military presence in the Philippines and Manila allowing this influence may open the door for the Philippines to join the AUKUS or Quadruple Security Dialogue (QUAD) in the future.
However, it is important that Marcos went on a five-day trip to Japan on February 8, 2023. During this visit, talks were held in the field of economy and trade, with a priority on security.[8] This visit can be interpreted as the Philippines and Japan will develop cooperation in many fields in the future. Of course, this is an element that brings Manila closer to the West.
Another example has caused significant tension between Beijing and Manila. The Philippines announced that a boat belonging to the Philippines carrying supplies to the ship Sierre Madre, which was used as a maritime post in the South China Sea, was intercepted by a Chinese ship, a military-grade laser was applied to the boat, and the boat was prevented from finding its way.[9] As a matter of fact, this situation can be read as the tension in the region has increased and the possibility of a hot conflict may come to the fore.
As a result, the tension in the Asia-Pacific Region pushes the states to choose sides and join a pole. In such a conjuncture, it can be said that the Philippines has internalized the Western perspective in its foreign policy. Because, it can be argued that this situation may manifest as the Philippines’ taking part in the Western alliance or the development of relations on the Manila-Taipei line in the future.
[1] “The Philippines at A Glance”, Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations, https://www.un.int/philippines/philippines/philippines-glance#, (Date of Accession: 16.02.2023).
[2] “Philippines’ Marcos To Visit Japan in February”, Nıkkei Asia, https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Philippines-Marcos-to-visit-Japan-in-February, (Date of Accession: 16.02.2023).
[3] “Philippines ‘Concerned’ over China Land Reclamation in Disputed Sea”, Thai PBS World, https://www.thaipbsworld.com/philippines-concerned-over-china-land-reclamation-in-disputed-sea/, (Date of Accession: 19.02.2023).
[4] “US, Philippines Vow to Boost Security Ties to Adress ‘Flashpoints’”, Channel News Asia, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/us-philippines-south-china-sea-flashpoints-security-ties-3221071, (Date of Accession: 19.02.2023).
[5] “Philippine Coast Guard Turns To Japan For More Boats”, NHK World-Japan, https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230121_03/, (Date of Accession: 19.02.2023).
[6] “Secretary of Defense Travels to Republic of Korea, Philippines”, U.S. Department of Defense, https://www.defense.gov/News/Advisories/Advisory/Article/3279581/secretary-of-defense-travels-to-republic-of-korea-philippines/, (Date of Accession: 19.02.2023).
[7] “Philippines Agrees to Allow US Wider Access to Military Bases”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/2/philippines-set-to-allow-wider-us-access-to-military-bases, (Date of Accession: 19.02.2023).
[8] “Philippines’ Marcos to Meet Japan’s Kishida in 5-Day Tokyo Trip to ‘Further Deepen’ Bilateral Ties”, This Week in Asia, https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3208862/philippines-marcos-meet-japans-kishida-5-day-tokyo-trip-further-deepen-bilateral-ties, (Date of Accession: 19.02.2023).
[9] “Holding out Against China in a Row over Reefs”, BBC News, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64634814, (Date of Accession: 19.02.2023).
