Frayed cross-strait ties and the gulf between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan present hurdles in Asean’s attempt to play a constructive role in promoting dialogue. Unlike major powers like the US, the grouping is more reluctant to upset its big neighbour and largest trade partner.
By keeping all the major actors engaged and invested, while embedding itself in global supply chains, Vietnam is growing its regional importance and strengthening its strategic autonomy.
The Philippines has been absent from recent China-organised meetings such as the third belt and road forum, a sign bilateral ties have turned worrying in a short time.
As the Muslim world takes up the Palestinian cause, Israel’s ally the US is seen as biased. China, meanwhile, has avoided apportioning blame and reiterated support for a two-state solution – fraught with its own difficulties.
Mineral reserves could be tapped and the revenue used to help fund public works, while the Philippines’ strategic location is another asset.
It’s unclear if the former Philippine president’s trip had official blessing, but it was undoubtedly a goodwill mission at a time of heightened South China Sea tensions, and as his successor readies his second-ever State of the Nation Address.
Extended military deployments in Asia and the pursuit of arms deals with several regional countries are demonstrating France’s desire to play a greater role in the Indo-Pacific.
The tripartite exercises in the South China Sea presage the renaissance of the US-led Asia-Pacific alliance system, this time featuring not only the traditional hub-and-spoke system but also spoke-to-spoke arrangements.
Manila in a bind despite US strengthened ties as it does not want to risk antagonising its largest trade partner, China, should a crisis erupt over Taiwan.
The scale and context of this year’s Balikatan exercises reflect a shift in geopolitical concerns, in line with the Philippines’ growing role in regional security.
Whether deliberate or by chance, former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou’s historic visit to the mainland could temper Beijing’s response to Tsai Ing-wen’s stopovers in the US.
Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement due to be renewed for second 10-year lease, allowing US military to access nine Philippine sites, up from current five.
Timing of the ruling is ‘too much of a coincidence’, coming soon after the Philippine president returned from a state visit to Beijing, a legal expert says.
Thorny maritime issues on the agenda for Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s first state visit to major power, amid renewed tensions in South China Sea.
Nomination of Jaime FlorCruz, former CNN Beijing Bureau Chief and long-time China resident may help Ferdinand Marcos Jnr shape a more informed policy towards the Philippines largest trade partner.
Belt and road investments suffered contractions due to disruptions brought on by the pandemic, but funding for projects in Southeast Asia rose in 2020.
The Philippines worry that granting expanded US military access may embroil it in a possible US-China showdown over the self-ruled island of Taiwan.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr looks to make up for lost time as he targets improvements in the country’s rail transport network.
Chinese interference and Manila’s inability to attract big oil players have hindered attempts to exploit energy resources in the West Philippine Sea.
Advancing defence ties with Manila’s treaty ally, but avoiding antagonising its largest trade partner, will be a difficult balancing act for Bongbong Marcos.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Yang Jiechi met in Europe’s Luxembourg on Monday, the 4th in-person meeting of US-China officials in 15 months.
The IPEF is region’s latest economic sandbag, aimed at complementing defence strategies to counter China’s influence. But Beijing has already spent a fortune on projects in dozens of countries, while upcoming US elections may mean political changes and less enthusiasm for Biden’s new agreement.
Marcos Jnr’s emphatic victory spotlights the dynastic rule by scions of Asian strongmen such as South Korea’s Park Chung-hee, Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew and Indonesia’s Sukarno.
He’s seen as the continuity candidate, and the one most likely to protect Duterte from possible prosecution – but the late strongman’s son also has far more political baggage than his opponents.
If Chinese security cooperation and economic largesse bring stability and prosperity to the islands, the message will resonate across the Pacific. However, the strong reaction of the region’s traditional powers could have a chilling effect on other countries eyeing a deal with China.
If Marcos wins the election, he’ll join a list of Asian scions – including Japan’s Shinzo Abe and India’s Indira Gandhi – whose stints in power have reinforced the role of political dynasties in the region.
The Philippines’ has repeatedly delayed reporting maritime skirmishes with Chinese vessels in favour of behind-the-scenes diplomacy. But its new leader won’t face an easier time, as the geopolitical environment gets more complicated.
President Rodrigo Duterte welcoming US access to Philippine military facilities is a marked departure from his usual tirades against Manila’s treaty ally.
Balancing the Philippines’ security alliance with the US and trading relationship with China while trying to maintain Asean centrality will be no easy feat for whoever replaces Rodrigo Duterte as president, writes Lucio Blanco Pitlo III.
