US Boosts Defense Support for the Philippines Against China
- Manila is receiving unprecedented support from the United States to enhance its defense capabilities.
- The US is boosting its defense assistance to the Philippines against China's influence in the region.
- This strategic move underscores the growing security concerns in the South China Sea.
In a significant escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, China has targeted Philippine vessels with water cannons and ramming incidents, coinciding with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s pivot towards the United States. This shift is underscored by a mutual defense treaty established since the Philippines gained independence in 1946, with Washington expressing strong support for Manila amid ongoing territorial disputes with Beijing. The recent Balikatan military exercises, which included U.S. and Philippine troops conducting operations in the contested waters, have drawn a stern response from China, which dispatched a warship and additional vessels to the area. Defense analyst Aaron-Matthew Lariosa noted that the expanded scope of these exercises signals a robust U.S.-Philippine security partnership, marking the first time joint drills occurred directly in disputed territories. This year also saw the U.S. deploy its Typhon mid-range missile launcher in the Asia-Pacific for the first time since its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019. U.S. and Philippine military leaders are advocating for a shift in Manila's defense strategy towards external maritime threats, moving away from a focus on internal counterinsurgency operations, which have faced criticism for human rights violations. Additionally, during a trilateral summit in April, Marcos Jr., U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced an economic corridor on Luzon, aimed at enhancing infrastructure and serving as a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative. This corridor is seen as a critical test of U.S. commitment to providing viable alternatives to Chinese investments in the region.