Strategically located in the Asia-Pacific, the Philippines is located in the central and southeastern part of Southeast Asia. The Philippines, an island nation, is also south of Taiwan. The country has a great importance due to its geopolitical position. Especially when considered together with Japan’s proximity to Taiwan, Manila stands out as an important actor in regional equations and fractures. Therefore, it has the potential to act as an aircraft carrier of the Philippines in any possible tension in the Asia-Pacific in the near future.
On the other hand, it is a country that is difficult to give up in terms of the encirclement of the main mass of China in particular and the Asian continent in general. Just west of the Philippines is the disputed South China Sea. There are disputes among the states of the region regarding the sea in question. As a matter of fact, although the relations between the littoral states have normalized in various periods, tensions continue. For this reason, it is possible that non-regional actors who want to disrupt the normalization processes in the region and increase the tension in relations will take steps that will deepen the conflicts in the South China Sea as a trump card.
In this context, the attitude and foreign policy of the Philippines is very important. It is also necessary to mention the historical process that the Philippines has undergone in order to better understand its foreign policy. The Philippines, which was a colony of Spain in the past, came under the control of the United States of America (USA) in 1898. Later, the struggle for independence was launched; but this has failed. The country was also occupied by Japan in the Second World War. Eventually, the Philippines gained its independence in 1946. However, the influence and presence of the United States in the region continued.
After the independence of the Philippines, agreements were signed between the parties in favor of the United States. In this way, Washington has continued to maintain its military and economic influence in the Philippines. There were developments such as the Military Base Agreements signed during the said period, for example, giving the United States the right to use 16 military bases and an indefinite number of regions for 99 years without any payment. In 1953, then-U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced that he wanted to increase the number of bases and improve the existing bases. However, as a result of the negotiations held in the following periods, it was decided to reduce the 99-year period to 25 years and to transfer some bases to the Philippine Army.[1]
In fact, the United States did not want to lose its influence in the Pacific. For this purpose, negotiations were started between the parties again in 1976. As a result of the decision agreed in 1979, the bases would be under the control of the Filipinos and the agreements would be renewed every five years. However, this situation has also limited the influence of the United States in the bases to some extent.[2] However, on May 27, 1999, the Philippine Senate approved the Visiting Forces Treaty (VFA), which gave U.S. military forces unrestricted access to the country’s ports and airports. This development has led to various problems in the internal politics of the Philippines. In fact, the terrorist organization Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) has carried out various attacks against the Manila administration, which maintains close relations with the United States and has agreed on the base.[3]
One of the reasons why the US has turned to the Philippines again has undoubtedly been the growth of China and its growing interest in the Pacific. The fact that the Beijing administration has started to build artificial islands has also started a new debate in the region. For example, relations between the Philippines and China have been strained. In particular, uncertainties about coral islands/reefs such as Scarborough Shoal[4] and the issue of artificial island construction have strained relations. In addition, the Philippine administration has expressed and brings forward security concerns by claiming that the islands in the region are armed. However, the Philippines’ economic and military capacity against China is weak. This forced the Manila administration to come to an agreement with Washington.[5]
In this context, it has recently been announced that the United States will obtain new military bases in the Philippines. On March 22, 2023, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos announced the establishment of four new military bases in various parts of the country, including a province overlooking the South China Sea, under the 2014 Advanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (ADCA) with the United States. The U.S. has Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Mindanao. 500 U.S. troops are stationed at the bases. The new bases are expected to be in Palawan, Zambales, Cagayan and Isabela.
The Philippines’ rapprochement with the United States against China brings with it the development of a win-win form of relationship along the Washington-Manila line. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, “We believe it should not target third parties or harm the interests of third parties.”[6]
As a result, under former President Rodrigo Duterte, tensions have risen in the Philippines’ relations with the United States; Relations with China had also entered the process of normalization. However, with Marcos, the situation seems to have changed. The Philippines has moved closer to the United States despite its colonial past due to concern over China’s rise and activities in the South China Sea. Due to today’s regional dynamics and tensions in the South China Sea, rapprochement with the United States is read by the Philippines from a win-win perspective. In addition, the fact that the system and perceptions in the Philippines have been shaped by Westerners for many years should not be ignored. Another fact to consider at this point is that Marcos was the son of Ferdinand Marcos (1965-1986), who ruled the country authoritatively in the past. During the reign of Baba Marcos, the relations between the Philippines and the United States were very strong.
[1] Leonard Davis, Revolutionary Struggle in the Philippines, Palgrave Macmillan, New York 1989, s. 92-93.
[2]Ibid.
[3] Christine Bell-Helia Farahnoosh, “Chronology of the Peace Process and Peace Agreements Between the Philippines and the National Democratic Front”, PSRP, Briefing Paper 03, 2015, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a0898bed915d3cfd0002d4/61540-Briefing-Paper-Philippines-Chronology.pdf, (Date of Accession: 04.05.2023), s. 2.
[4] Christopher Woody, “Tensions are Rising in the South China Sea, and a US Ally There has Already Drawn ‘Red Lines’ with China”, INSIDER, https://www.businessinsider.com/scarborough-shoal-is-red-line-amid-us-china-tension-in-south-china-sea-2018-10, (Date of Accession: 04.05.2023).
[5] “US Secures Deal on Philippines Bases to Complete Arc Around China”, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64479712, (Date of Accession: 04.05.2023).
[6] Sanya Mansoor-Simmone Shah, “Why the Philippines Is Letting the U.S. Expand Its Military Footprint in the Country Again”, Time, https://time.com/6252750/philippines-us-military-agreement-china/, (Date of Accession: 04.05.2023); Neil Jerome Morales, “Marcos Says New Military Bases with US to be ‘Scattered’ Around the Philippines”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/marcos-says-new-military-bases-with-us-be-scattered-around-philippines-2023-03-22/, (Date of Accession: 04.05.2023).
