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Opinion | South China Sea doesn’t have to define Sino-Philippine relations
- In dialling back the possibility of more US bases and dialling up a commitment to diplomacy with China, Marcos is offering a path to de-escalation
- In turn, Beijing could rein in its aggressive tactics in the South China Sea and explore genuine economic cooperation
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Last week, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said he had no plans to “create any more [military] bases or give [Americans] access to any more bases”. Last year, Manila granted US troops access to four military bases, in addition to five existing locations under the countries’ Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), signed in 2014.
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The timing of his comments were telling. Marcos Jnr had just returned from a high-profile White House visit for the inaugural Japan-Philippines-US summit.
To Manila’s delight, President Joe Biden reaffirmed America’s mutual defence treaty obligations towards the Philippines in the event of a South China Sea conflict. The US and Japan also promised major strategic investments, while the US Congress deliberated on a bipartisan bill to provide US$2.5 billion in defence aid to the Philippines.
Nevertheless, Marcos was adamant that he wasn’t interested in joining an anti-China alliance, but was instead acting purely defensively. Manila’s foreign policy moves were simply “reactions to what has happened in the South China Sea, to the aggressive actions that we have had to deal with”, he said.
By reiterating his country’s benign intentions and a commitment to diplomatic engagement with China, Marcos provided a path towards de-escalation.
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The Philippines could also ease tensions by reconsidering any massive expansion in American soldiers on its soil, or the introduction of Japanese troops, especially in areas close to Taiwan. In turn, Beijing could dial down its aggressive interceptions of Philippine patrols and resupply missions in the South China Sea.
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