The Philippines’ diplomatic strategy toward the US and China: From theory to reality

Do Thi Anh; Tran Thai Bao; Le Hoang  Kiet; Nguyen Tuan Binh; Tran Xuan Hiep

doi:10.31893/multirev.2024262

Keywords:

international relations

Abstract

China and the Philippines have a long history of relations. This relationship has developed and achieved many significant milestones despite many ups and downs. China’s rise began approximately 2010 when it surpassed Japan to become the world’s second largest economy after the United States. This has drawn the attention of countries in the region seeking opportunities from China’s development. Moreover, to realize its strategic ambitions as a great power in the 21st century, China had to set strong goals, with the economy as the driving force behind all development activities. The Philippines, a neighboring country with many characteristics suitable for China’s political, economic and diplomatic goals, became an important factor in China’s rise. In implementing a policy of closer relations with China, the Philippines could not ignore the influence of the United States. The Philippines is one of the United States’ Asian allies, along with Japan, South Korea and Australia, and is a driving force behind the United States’ policy of increasing dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. This article will focus on the impact of the United States on China and the Philippines, as well as the process of Philippine–China relations in many fields, with a focus on politics–diplomacy, economy and security–defense in the first two decades of the 21st century.
References
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24. Loan, B. (2017). China provides weapons aid to the Philippines. https://daidoanket.vn/trung-quoc-vien-tro-vu-khi-cho-philippines-10084710.html, accessed on August 13, 2023.
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30. Phuong, L. (2021). US-Philippines relationship “broken mirror heals”. http://tapchiqptd.vn/vi/quoc-phong-quan-su-nuoc-ngoai/quan-he-my-philippines-guong-vo-lai-lanh/17784.html, accessed on August 22, 2023.
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45. Velasco, J.C., & Song, W. (2023). Nexus of Strong Presidentialism and Philippine Foreign Policy: The Case of the Duterte Presidency’s Hedging toward China. Pacific Focus Inha Journal of International Studies, 38(3), 349-377. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pafo.12239
46. White House. (2006). The National Strategy for Combating Terrorism. https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/wh/71803.htm, accessed on August 13, 2023.
47. Willoughby, M.C., & Medillo, R.J. (2020). The Tragedy of Small Power Politics: The Philippines in the East Sea. Bandung, 7(1), 3-23. https://doi.org/10.1163/21983534-00701002
48. Winger, G. (2023). Alliance Embeddedness: Rodrigo Duterte and the Resilience of the US–Philippine Alliance. Foreign Policy Analysis, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/fpa/orab013.
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50. Zhao, X. (2018). Why Obama’s Rebalance towards Asia-Pacific Was Unsuccessful? International Studies, 55(2), 87-105. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020881718791040

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Anh, D. T., Bao, T. T., Kiet, L. H., Binh, N. T., & Hiep, T. X. (2024). The Philippines’ diplomatic strategy toward the US and China: From theory to reality. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7(11), 2024262. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024262

[1] Asia – Europe Meeting. (2019). Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/asia-europe-meeting-asemen, accessed on February 5, 2023.

[2] Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. (2024). What is Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation? https://www.apec.org/about-us/about-apec, accessed on February 6, 2023.

[3] Association of South East Asian Nations. (2024.) What we do. https://asean.org/what-we-do/, accessed on February 7, 2023.

[4] Balboa, J. (2020). Duterte’s Foreign Policy Pivot and Its Impact on Philippine Trade and Investments: An International Political Economy Perspective. Philippines Political Science Journal, 41(1-2), 127-160. https://doi.org/10.1163/2165025X-BJA10009

[5] Banlaoi, R. (2002). The Role of Philippines – American Relations in the Global Campaign Against Terrorism: Implications for Regional Security. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 24(2), 294-314. https://web.archive.org/web/20040414173137id

[6] Baviera, A. (2012). The Influence of Domestic Politics on Philippine Foreign Policy: The case of Philippines-China relations since 2004. RSIS Working Paper, 241, 1-53. https://www.rsis.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/rsis-pubs/WP241.pdf

[7] Baviera, A. (2016). President Duterte’s Foreign Policy Challenges. Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, 38(2), 202-208. muse.jhu.edu/article/628452.

[8] Camba, A. (2023). From Aquino to Marcos: political survival and Philippine foreign policy towards China. Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/24761028.2023.2281165

[9] Chuong, N.A. (2016). Philippines - China relations from 2001 to present. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 10(216), 35-43.

[10] De Castro, R.C. (2009). The US-Philippine Alliance: An Evolving Hedge against an Emerging China Challenge. Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, 31(3), 399-423. muse.jhu.edu/article/370828.

[11] De Castro, R.C. (2015). The Philippines Confronts China in the East Sea: Power Politics vs. Liberalism-Legalism. Asian Perspective, 39(1), 71-100. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43738115

[12] De Castro, R.C. (2019). China’s BRI and the Duterte administration’s appeasement policy: Examining the connection between the two national strategies. East Asia, 36(3), 205-227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-019-09315-9

[13] Demi, M.P. (2017). Duterte plays a “cat-and-mouse game” with the US and China. http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001072505?full=y&archive, accessed on February 6, 2023.

[14] Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines All Rights Reserved. (2009). Overview of China-Philippines Bilateral Relations. http://ph.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zfgx/zzgx/200501/t20050121_1336099.htm, accessed on February 10, 2023.

[15] Embassy of the Philippines in bejing China. (2020). Philippines – China relations. https://beijingpe.dfa.gov.ph/overview-of-philippines-china-relations/84-phl-chn-relations, accessed on February 11, 2023.

[16] Ernst, M. (2022). Control Through Cooperation? Assessing China’s Economic and Military-Strategic Interests in the East Sea. The Journal of Territorial and Maritime Studies, 9(2), 7-30. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48684186

[17] Goryakin, Y., & Lobstein, T., & James, W.P., & Suhrcke, M. (2015). The impact of economic, political and social globalization on overweight and obesity in the 56 low and middle income countries. Social Science and Medicine, 133, 67–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.03.030

[18] Ito, H., & Lee, D. (2005). Assessing the impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks on US airline demand. Journal of Economics and Business, 57(1), 75–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconbus.2004.06.003

[19] Jennings, R. (2017). Philippines Seeks to Improve Relations with US. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/us-philippines/4057554.html, accessed on February 13, 2023.

[20] Jeong, J., & Grix, J. (2023). An analysis of Japan’s soft power strategies through the prism of sports mega-events. Sport in Society, 26(10), 1756-1776. HTTPS://DOI.ORG/ 10.1080/17430437.2023.2197398

[21] Kiet, L.H., & Minh, N.A., & Hiep, T.X. (2024). The Origins Of The Russia–Ukraine Conflict: A Geopolitical Perspective. Journal of Science and Technology - University of Danang, 22(2), 26-31. https://jst-ud.vn/jst-ud/article/view/8781

[22] Kiet, L.H., & Tuyen, N.V. (2023). Vietnam’s Geopolitical Position with the US in its strategy to prevent China’s Hegemonic Ambitions. Journal of Science and Technology - University of Danang, 21(8.1), 63-69. https://jst-ud.vn/jst-ud/article/view/8630.

[23] Lan, N.T.B. (2018). The geopolitical role of Southeast Asia for the US in the early 21st century. Can Tho University of Journal, 54(3), 209-215. HTTPS://DOI.ORG/ 10.22144/ctu.jvn.2018.058

[24] Loan, B. (2017). China provides weapons aid to the Philippines. https://daidoanket.vn/trung-quoc-vien-tro-vu-khi-cho-philippines-10084710.html, accessed on August 13, 2023.

[25] Macaraig, C.E., & Fenton, A.J. (2021). Analyzing the Causes and Effects of the East Sea Dispute. The Journal of Territorial and Maritime Studies, 8(2), 42-58. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48617340

[26] Magcamit, M. (2019). To feel is to believe: China, US, and the emotional beliefs of Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte. Political Science 73(1), 6-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/00323187.2021.1967764

[27] Paderon, M.M. (2022). Philippine-US Trade Relations: Looking Back and a Way Forward. https://www.eastwestcenter.org/publications/philippine-united-states-trade-relations-looking-back-and-way-forward, accessed on August 16, 2023.

[28] Pemmaraju, S.R. (2016). The East Sea Arbitration (The Philippines v. China): Assessment of the Award on Jurisdiction and Admissibility. Chinese Journal of International Law, 15(2), 265-307. https://doi.org/10.1093/chinesejil/jmw019

[29] Peters, M. (2022). The emerging multipolar world order: A preliminary analysis. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 55(14), 1653-1663. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2022.2151896

[30] Phuong, L. (2021). US-Philippines relationship “broken mirror heals”. http://tapchiqptd.vn/vi/quoc-phong-quan-su-nuoc-ngoai/quan-he-my-philippines-guong-vo-lai-lanh/17784.html, accessed on August 22, 2023.

[31] Putnam, R. (1988). Diplomacy And Domestic Politics - The Logic Of 2 - Level Games. International Organization, 42(3), 427-460. HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1017/S0020818300027697

[32] Rabena, A.J. (2017). Philippines-China Relations: A Deepening Partnership. https://appfi.ph/publications/commentaries/1311-philippines-china-relations-a-deepening-partnership, accessed on August 27, 2023.

[33] Ranada, P. (2018). 5 ways Duterte made good on his pivot to China. https://www.rappler.com/%20nation/217079-5-ways-duterte-made-good-on-pivot-china-xi-jinping/, accessed on August 29, 2023.

[34] Schneider, G. (2013). Peace through globalization and capitalism? Prospects of two liberal propositions. Journal of Peace Research, 51(2), 173-183. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343313497739

[35] Sifton, J. (2020). US Revokes Visa of Philippines ‘Drug War’ Police Chief. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/01/22/us-revokes-visa-philippines-drug-war-police-chief, accessed on August 13, 2023.

[36] Sorensen, G. (2006). What Kind of World Order? The International System in the New Millennium. Cooperation and Conflict, 41(4), 343-363. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010836706069601

[37] Southgate, L. (2019). China’s sovereignty violations in the East and East Seas: How should Europe respond? European View, 18(2), 242-249. https://doi.org/10.1177/1781685819882863

[38] Stepanov, A. (2022). US Policy towards Southeast Asia: from Barack Obama to Joe Biden. Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 92(15), 1473–1478. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1019331622210183

[39] Tan, N.V., & Trang, N.T.A. (2017). The Philippines in US foreign policy (1991-2014). Hanoi: Truth National Political Publishing House.

[40] Tolentino, E., & Ham, M. (2015). The entrapment of asymmetry: the Philippines between the US and China. Bandung J of Global South, 2(20). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40728-015-0016-8

[41] Torio, P., & Doytch, N. 2023. Understanding US-Philippines Bilateral Relations: Building a Strong Foundation for Economic Cooperation. SSRN of Journal. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4436822

[42] US Department of State. (2023). US Relations With the Philippines. https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-the-philippines/, accessed on August 25, 2023.

[43] US Trade Representative. (2021). National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers in 2021. https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/reports/2021/2021NTE.pdf, accessed on May 26, 2023.

[44] Van, M. (2016). The President of the Philippines visits China with an economic focus. https://www.rfi.fr/vi/chau-a/20161018-tong-thong-philippines-tham-trung-quoc-voi-trong-tam-kinh-te, accessed on August 13, 2023.

[45] Velasco, J.C., & Song, W. (2023). Nexus of Strong Presidentialism and Philippine Foreign Policy: The Case of the Duterte Presidency’s Hedging toward China. Pacific Focus Inha Journal of International Studies, 38(3), 349-377. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pafo.12239

[46] White House. (2006). The National Strategy for Combating Terrorism. https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/wh/71803.htm, accessed on August 13, 2023.

[47] Willoughby, M.C., & Medillo, R.J. (2020). The Tragedy of Small Power Politics: The Philippines in the East Sea. Bandung, 7(1), 3-23. https://doi.org/10.1163/21983534-00701002

[48] Winger, G. (2023). Alliance Embeddedness: Rodrigo Duterte and the Resilience of the US–Philippine Alliance. Foreign Policy Analysis, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/fpa/orab013.

[49] Yu, L. (2017). Sino-Philippine relations showing good momentum in all fields. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/201711/15/c_136754233.htm, accessed on August 13, 2023.

[50] Zhao, X. (2018). Why Obama’s Rebalance towards Asia-Pacific Was Unsuccessful? International Studies, 55(2), 87-105. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020881718791040

Abstract

References

How to cite