SUPERPOWER RIVALRY
Under Marcos, the Philippines has nearly doubled the number of its bases accessible to US forces, including three new sites facing Taiwan, an island China claims as its own.
US-Philippine military exercises have taken place regularly for decades, but manoeuvres have extended to include joint air and sea patrols over the South China Sea and close to Taiwan, actions China has seen as “stirring up trouble”.
China, which claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, has accused the Philippines of repeatedly trespassing on its territory, while urging dialogue to prevent mishaps. A 2016 arbitration ruling said China’s claim had no legal basis under international law.
“Our independent foreign policy compels us to cooperate with them on matters where our interests align, to respectfully disagree on areas where our views differ, and to push back when our sworn principles such as our sovereignty, our sovereign rights, and our jurisdiction … are questioned or ignored,” Marcos said.
Too much emphasis was being placed on the superpower rivalry between the United States and China at the expense of legitimate maritime interests of other countries in the region, he said.
“It distracts us from calling out aggressive, unilateral, illegal and unlawful actions for what they are – attacks against the rule of international law and the principles of the Charter of United Nations,” he said.
Marcos also said he had approved the third phase of the military’s acquisition plan to support his country’s shift in focus away from internal to external defence.
“Our forces must be able to guarantee to the fullest extent possible … unimpeded and peaceful exploration and exploitation of all natural resources in areas where we have jurisdiction, including … our exclusive economic zone,” Marcos said.
Source: CNA
