Philippines-US alliance moves past Duterte dysfunction
Tom Rogan
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Meeting Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos of the Philippines at the White House, President Joe Biden saluted his fellow president on Monday.
Biden offered a clear message. “The United States also remains ironclad in our commitment to the defense of the Philippines,” he said, “including in the South China Sea, and we will continue to support the Philippines’ military modernization.”
FORTUNATELY FOR CHINA, CONGRESS REMAINS BEHOLDEN TO THE LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP
This statement underlines the escalating aggression that the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, is suffering at China’s hands. Determined to use the South China Sea as its own private trade, energy, and fisheries reserve, Chinese coastguard vessels are attempting to prevent Philippine ships from sailing even within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China’s imperial efforts were encapsulated by a recent incident in which a Philippines coastguard ship loaded with foreign journalists was trailed and then dangerously maneuvered against by Chinese vessels. Unhappy that its bullying was recorded by the world’s media, China then blamed the Philippines for what happened.
Fortunately, the Philippines now has a president who actually cares about his nation’s interests. In contrast, Marcos’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, turned his navy into a beach patrol and approached relations with China through the prism of doing whatever he could to satisfy Beijing. While Duterte pretended to be a nationalist strongman, he was actually an obvious Chinese puppet.
While Marcos has been keen to maintain cordial relations and trade ties with Beijing, he recognizes that the U.S. alliance is crucial to the Philippines’ long-term security and prosperity. To that end, Marcos recently granted the U.S. access to four military bases of key strategic utility. He is also far more willing to challenge China’s aggression openly, as with the Philippines’ coast guard activities. The U.S. rightly appears set to boost those capabilities with the provision of new patrol vessels.
It’s easy to see why China is so upset with these positive developments.