The Philippines vis-à-vis the South China Sea security threat

OVER THE weekend, I read with keen interest the latest action the Philippines ( PH) is deliberately taking where the soured Philippine- China relations are concerned on account of the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea (SCS) brouhaha. It seems that we are seriously considering the external security threat in this administration. And rightly so.

The Philippines, after six years of kowtowing to China — no thanks to the previous president’s ingratiating foreign policy — is now taking a proactive stance where our territorial integrity is at stake. But, really, six wasted years.

So, what is a puny country like the Philippines doing to ensure its security survival in the face of a hegemon and superpower like China? Well, aside from the overused Mutual Defense Treaty — and its enabling mechanism EDCA that bolsters USPH alliance, that the Philippines has dangled over our faces — since time immemorial — and the mammoth stoic face of China, the former is also strengthening ties with Australia.

In the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 2024 held on March 4- 6, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia, the Philippine president said, “Manila and Canberra’s interests are ‘ intertwined’,” communicating that PH has the West’s support. Interestingly, in 2018, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte snubbed the same summit. No surprise there.

Moreover, as countries evolve from bilateral relations to multilateral relations, there is also a trilateral relationship that PH is trying to forge between India and Japan — two Asian allies, in addition to its western backing. Analysts say that a trilateral deal between the three nations does not seem unlikely in the distinct future.

In a March 9, 2024 story written by Maria Siow and Su-Lin Tan for South China Morning Post, the Philippine president, in a historic address at the Australian parliament, declared “his country would not cede ‘one square inch’ of its territory and would defend its sovereignty amid Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea.” PH and China have been exchanging barbs owing to recent hostilities in the contested waters.

Of course, not all ASEAN Member States (AMS) share the Philippines’ strong posture. Remember we’re the only country who called China’s bluff by scoring a win on July 12, 2016, when the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in our favor against China in the contested SCS. The 2016 ruling favoring the Philippines, also determined that “major elements of Beijing’s claim — including land reclamation activities in the South China Sea — were unlawful.” This was a shining moment for the Philippines and then kaput!

Experts say the Philippines’ “robust” foreign policy was directed at fortifying its maritime security and defense capabilities. I believe it’s the natural course of things given the weak naval security force of the country. We needed to strengthen and expand our security ties in the region and even beyond considering our military weakness. There’s no other way to go.

On the ASEAN front — and this I like, in January, this year, Vietnam and the Philippines, both members of ASEAN, signed security deals which include cooperation between the two countries’ coastguards to manage any incident in the disputed waters. I bet China frowns at this development, but I have always admired the courage of Vietnam. They never submit to a foreign power.

For two ASEAN member states to partner in this security endeavor is admirable bearing in mind that AMS have always stuck to “The ASEAN Way” in resolving issues and governing all its relationships with fellow AMS. For me, there should come a time when the myth of The ASEAN Way should be debunked if only to respect the independence and the nationalist desire of an ASEAN member state like the Philippines to protect its own territory. It is apparent The ASEAN Way has been used and exploited by China in her favor in regard her relationships with other ASEAN member states.

I believe the action of Vietnam, a fellow AMS, is already an open declaration of support to the

Philippines. Let’s remember that the SCS has seen countless territorial clashes between China, the Philippines, and other countries because China continues to claim almost the entire sea as i ts sovereign territory — yes, Juana, while the Philippines, Vietnam, and other AMS claim various islands, islets, reefs, and shoals around their coasts.

Push forward Philippines. Hats off to Vietnam.

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The writer is on leave from her talk show, Woman Talk with Belinda Sales. She can be reached at belindabelsales@ gmail. com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./