Since Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.'s visit to the Chinese mainland in January, the Philippines has experienced multiple maritime conflicts in the South China Sea. Originally, Marcos Jr. emphasized a balanced stance, referencing an African saying: \"when the elephants fight, the only one that loses is the grass. We might be the grass. We do not want to be in that position.\" This analogy highlighted the Philippines' desire to avoid taking sides between major powers.
However, over the past year, increasing maritime tensions have led Marcos Jr. to reassess his strategy. He now describes a \"more assertive Chinese mainland\" as a \"real challenge\" to its Asian neighbors and is advocating for a \"paradigm shift\" in the Philippines' approach to the South China Sea. As part of this shift, the Philippines is in discussions with Japan regarding a Reciprocal Access Agreement, effectively a defense pact.
On December 20, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed the strained relations, attributing the challenges to changes in Philippine policies, perceived provocations at sea, and actions undermining China's legitimate and lawful rights. He urged the Philippine side to act with caution.
Marites Vitug, Editor-at-Large at Rappler, observed, \"This is the pendulum swung from when former president Duterte was in office for the past six years when he pivoted completely to China. Now, with Marcos, he's trying to reach out to both China and the U.S.\" This balancing act aims to maintain strong ties with both nations without compromising the Philippines' sovereignty.
Rigoberto Tiglao, former presidential spokesperson, criticized the current strategy as irrational, suggesting that the Philippines is inadvertently picking fights to appease larger powers. He highlighted the contrasting coverage in Philippine and Vietnamese media to underscore his concerns about the direction of Philippine policy.
Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, Vice President of External Affairs at the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, emphasized the need for the Philippines to modernize its agriculture and improve infrastructure. She believes that strengthening these sectors could allow the Philippines to benefit more effectively from its relationship with the Chinese mainland.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former President of the Philippines, highlighted China's role as a development partner, noting its contributions as a market, donor, and provider of capital and technology. She cautioned that a narrow focus on security alliances with the U.S. should not come at the expense of economic partnerships with the Chinese mainland.
As the Philippines navigates this complex geopolitical landscape, the balance between security and economic interests remains a pivotal challenge. Marcos Jr.'s evolving strategy reflects a broader effort to secure the nation's interests while maintaining stable relations with major global powers.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
