President Joe Biden reassured the Philippines of the United States’ commitment to defending the country in the wake of recent confrontations with China that resulted in injuries. The reaffirmation of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines covers armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, including the South China Sea. Biden’s meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is part of a larger effort to rally Asia-Pacific partners against China’s growing presence in the region. The leaders discussed initiatives on economic and energy security, investments in critical infrastructure, and maritime collaboration.
President Marcos has taken a different approach from his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who was more pro-Beijing. Under Marcos’s leadership, there has been a pushback against China’s territorial claims within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China claims sovereignty over a large portion of the South China Sea, conflicting with the claims of the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejecting China’s claims, Beijing insists on its historical rights. Manila has increased patrols in contested waters and publicized China’s incursions in a strategy known as “assertive transparency.”
China has responded to the Philippines’ assertiveness by deploying coast guard and paramilitary vessels to confront Philippine missions in nearby waters, particularly around the Spratly Islands’ Second Thomas Shoal. Chinese forces have engaged in risky maneuvers, including firing water cannons at Philippine boats, resulting in injuries to Philippine sailors. Despite these provocations, President Marcos has not invoked the defense treaty with the U.S. in response to the incidents. This highlights the delicate balance the Philippines must navigate in dealing with China while maintaining its relationship with the U.S.
The Biden administration’s efforts to boost defense ties with Japan and the Philippines are part of a broader strategy to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. is seeking to strengthen alliances and partnerships to ensure stability and security in the face of China’s expanding influence. By engaging with key allies like Japan and the Philippines, the U.S. aims to present a unified front against Chinese aggression and uphold international norms and laws, such as the United Nations treaty on maritime law.
The recent developments in the South China Sea underscore the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region. The U.S. and its allies are facing a challenge from China’s increasing assertiveness and territorial claims, which have raised concerns about regional stability and security. As tensions continue to simmer, countries like the Philippines are caught in the middle, balancing their relationships with major powers and asserting their own sovereignty in the face of external pressures. The Biden administration’s commitment to defending the Philippines is a signal of the U.S.’s support for its allies in the region and its determination to uphold the rules-based international order.
In conclusion, the U.S.-Philippines alliance remains crucial in the face of growing threats from China in the Asia-Pacific region. President Biden’s reassurance of U.S. support for the Philippines underscores the commitment to defending its allies against external aggression. As China’s assertiveness continues to challenge the status quo, the U.S. is rallying its partners to counter these actions and ensure regional stability. The delicate balance between maintaining diplomatic ties with China and standing up for sovereignty and international law is a challenge faced by countries like the Philippines, prompting the need for a coordinated and unified response from the U.S. and its allies to address these complex geopolitical realities.
