Name: Reyes, Maita Angela G.

Course & Section: AB-FS301

Subject: IPEN11F International Political Economy
Professor: Jumel G. Estrañero
Date: March 5, 2018

“The Philippines in between China vs US”

In terms of leadership, President Duterte and President Trump are almost alike
with each other, personality wise. However, politically speaking, it’s a whole lot different
story. During the past administration, the Philippines-US relationship were close. But, it
took a different turn once President Duterte was elected. The president has been strong
on speaking about his decision on separating with the US, both in military and
economics. This caused uproars saying that, “the US has been the Philippines’ friend
and ally for decades” and such. It is a question if the Philippines remains to be an ally of
the US. Especially, when the president ordered in 2016 for the US Special Forces, who
have been assisting to battle against the extremist militant group, Abu Sayyaf, to leave
the southern island of Mindanao. The president claimed that the US presence only
worsened the situation, therefore he argued that they should just leave. Another is the
foul words that the president called to then US President Barack Obama over the
planned addressing of the Obama administration on extrajudicial killings 1.
Economically, the Philippines is a major investment destination for the US. The US is
the third leading trading partner of the Philippines. The US is also a leading source of
official development assistance for the Philippines. Hence, there is a lot at stake once
the ties between the Philippines and US deteriorate. Millions of dollars worth of military,
technical, and humanitarian assistance will be at risk2.
Unlike the US, China is more keen on supporting the Philippines’ war on drugs,
urging the UN to support it as well on the 27th Session of the Universal Periodic Review
of the United Nations Human Rights Council, May 8, 2017. China also aided the
Philippines’ battle against terrorists in Marawi City through arms package assistance,
military assistance, and rehabilitation aid, totalling up to PHP590 million 3. Last year after
bilateral talks with Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
commented, “The China-Philippines relationship has come onto a broad way which will
definitely become wider and the relationship will become more solid” 4 and said that the
relationship has entered the golden period. Others considers this is as a smart move of
the president to lean more towards China than the US, believing that befriending the
“enemy” is much better than to be a pawn. But, then again, there’s more to this than
meets the eye. The main issue is that China has not and probably never will
acknowledge nor submit to the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, invalidating
most of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea 5. This questions if the
relationship between Philippines and China is indeed genuine. Are we really entering
the golden period, or are we only risking the stake of the country?
China is rising as a superpower and it is threatening the US hegemony by
emerging as one. “The world used to tremble at the sound of America’s voice” 6 but now,
not as much. China’s President, Xi Jinping is coined as the “most powerful leader since
Mao Zedong” after having his name and ideology enshrined in the constitution of the
ruling Communist Party of China7. China’s political ideology, economic growth, and
science and technology advancement is viewed as the factors that’s enabling the
country to “overpower” the US. Moreover, “the United States is not ready for a military
confrontation with China, and China knows this, so it moves at will” 8. Thus, it is obvious
that China is moving towards its goal of being a global superpower with President Xi
Jinping as its leader, with no fear of restrictions and hindrances. Although domestically,
China is not supported by many, its capability to advance politically and economically
cannot be denied. For example in the South China Sea, by building artificial islands and
land seizures, it is surely making a message to push the US away from the region.
What’s important right now is improving the Philippines’ defense system. Other
than the US and China, India’s military support has contributed a positive impact to the
country during the Marawi crisis by providing $500,000 worth of aid 9. Outside forces are
important to battle against with, but more importantly, what is happening inside the
Philippines itself is in need of assistance. The Philippines must be strengthened and
pacified domestically in order to battle outside forces more efficiently. India can help
improve the counterterrorism frameworks of the government. Therefore, the Philippines
must strengthen its relationship with India. And in this whole Philippines-US-China
ordeal, the Philippines should “strengthen all of its alliances”10 with others and that
includes India.
The world is constantly changing and nothing lasts forever. If China can beat the
US as a superpower, it can and it will. This is just one of the many of the changes that
can emerge in the years to come. The concern is the security of the Asia Pacific and
what these changes are offering. Ten years from now, China more or less, will most
definitely claim its throne as a superpower over the US. Trump is not doing a very good
job as president and it is not nowhere near to even good. And, even though the
Philippines’ is promoting peace and friendship with China, it will not be good for us and
the South China Sea, unless we strongly fight for our rights over the disputed islands.
The Asia Pacific must strengthen its security defense, otherwise we can be a target of
the new superpower that is rising for we can never predict nor decipher what is indeed
its motives.
Establishing military alliances with countries other than China and US is what is
crucial for the Philippines right now. The country must seek ways it can to improve and
strengthen military forces. The government should also improve the training of soldiers,
police, and other security defense teams in order to equip us over crisis that may arise.
And even though we are in “good terms” with China, our guards must remain on high
alert for we can never know what China might pull from its sleeves. Lastly, the
Philippines must continue to pursue growth and development more independently.

_____________________
1
Phoebe Benich, "Is the Philippines Still a US Ally?" The Diplomat, September 14, 2016, ,
accessed March 04, 2018, https://thediplomat.com/2016/09/is-the-philippines-still-a-us-ally/.
2
TheABSCBNNews, "What's at stake in PH-US relationship?" YouTube, September 14, 2016, ,
accessed March 04, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L38oWCphQc.
3
Jumel G. Estrañero and Maria Kristina D. Siuagan, "When David Won Against Goliath: Post
July 12th PCA/Hague Ruling Development and Strategic Security Environment,".
4
Inquirernews, "Chinese FM: golden period for China-Philippines," YouTube, June 29, 2017, ,
accessed March 04, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WKW_vY99Qs.
5
Phoebe Benich, "Is the Philippines Still a US Ally?" The Diplomat, September 14, 2016, ,
accessed March 04, 2018, https://thediplomat.com/2016/09/is-the-philippines-still-a-us-ally/.
6
Jumel G. Estrañero, "Philippines faces new realities in the new Sino-US sphere," Asia Times,
September 12, 2017, , accessed March 04, 2018, http://www.atimes.com/equi-balancing-
politics-philippine-realities-new-sino-us-centrism/.
7
Bbcnews, "Xi Jinping most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong - BBC News,"
YouTube, October 24, 2017, , accessed March 04, 2018,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Y9yQaE89E.
8
Jumel G. Estrañero, "Philippines faces new realities in the new Sino-US sphere," Asia Times,
September 12, 2017, , accessed March 04, 2018, http://www.atimes.com/equi-balancing-
politics-philippine-realities-new-sino-us-centrism/.
9
Mohammed Sinan Siyech, "India-Philippines Counterterrorism Cooperation," The Diplomat,
July 20, 2017, , accessed March 04, 2018, https://thediplomat.com/2017/07/india-philippines-
counterterrorism-cooperation/.
10
Jumel G. Estrañero, "Philippines faces new realities in the new Sino-US sphere," Asia Times,
September 12, 2017, , accessed March 04, 2018, http://www.atimes.com/equi-balancing-
politics-philippine-realities-new-sino-us-centrism/.