Noise aside, the Philippines, under President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy, has not only succeeded in defusing tensions and managing disputes in the South China Sea-West Philippine Sea, but, more importantly, has expanded cooperation with China to the benefit of Filipinos. At the same time, the government presided over the biggest infusion in Philippine military capability buildup since the passage of the 1995 AFP modernization law. The Duterte administration’s investment in defense and diplomacy bolstered the country’s position in the flashpoint without needlessly estranging ties with other claimants, including China.
A comparison of how the Bajo de Masinloc/Panatag Shoal and the Julian Felipe Reef incidents played out demonstrates how the Duterte government outperformed its predecessor. Crises stemming from rival claims to territories in the South China Sea demand astute diplomacy.
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