Philippines Urges ‘Transparent and Sincere Engagement’ in US-China ‘Strategic Rivalry’

A U.S. Navy hovercraft speeds past the USS Wasp, a multipurpose amphibious assault ship, during the amphibious landing exercises as part of the annual joint U.S.–Philippines military exercise on the shores of San Antonio town, facing the South China sea, Zambales Province in the Philippines, on April 11, 2019. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images)

The Philippines has called for a commitment to dialogue in the “strategic rivalry” between the United States and China, as any escalation of tensions over Taiwan could lead to “adverse repercussions” for the entire Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) forum in Washington on Monday, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo described the U.S.-China rivalry as “a defining feature of this regional ecosystem.”

“As responsible powers, each with a stake in the region’s long-term peace and security, Washington and Beijing need to manage their strategic rivalry with dialogue, transparent, and sincere engagement, where possible,” he said.

Manalo said the Philippines would bear the brunt of any escalation of tensions in Taiwan, given its proximity with the self-ruled island, which sits only 90 miles from the northernmost point of the Philippines.

“Taiwan is literally next door to the Philippines,” he said. “Our view is that not only would it affect the Philippines, but it would affect the entire region and could escalate to even something, you know, more dangerous.”

Beijing launched a three-day military exercise around Taiwan on April 8 in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California on April 5.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to take it by force if necessary. It recently warned U.S. officials against meeting with Tsai because it views such meetings as an endorsement of Taiwan’s desire to be seen as an independent country.

From the position of the United States, while it has agreed not to unilaterally champion the island’s independence, it’s legally bound by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to provide the island with the arms it needs for its self-defense.

Manalo observed that Beijing’s recent drills around Taiwan were not as intense as last year when the CCP conducted live-fire drills around the island to retaliate against then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022.

“So far, what we see now, at least this visit ... it’s not as it was in August [2022], and this could hopefully pave the way for calming the situation a bit on the straits between China and the United States,” he said.

“And hopefully from there, see how the tensions can be lowered, and we can move back from the tensions and all of this,” Manalo added.

He also reiterated the “importance that the Philippines accords its alliance with the United States and its special place in the context of our independent foreign policy.”

“Our alliance stands proud in the nexus of relationships and arrangements buttressing the regional security architecture. This architecture must maintain trust and confidence among parties amidst the U.S.-China rivalry and other geopolitical pressures,” he said.

Philippines Sites Not for ‘Offensive Actions’

Manalo is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for the 2+2 ministerial dialogue on Tuesday, with a focus on “global prosperity issues” and regional security.

When asked whether the Enhanced Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines would house U.S. weaponry that could be used in the event of a Taiwan contingency, Manalo said this has yet to be decided.

“It will all depend on how discussions go on the type of activities and the terms of reference of those activities within any of those sites,” he said.

The Philippines earlier granted American forces access to four new military bases, including a naval base and an airport in Cagayan province, as well as an army camp in Isabela—all of which are located near Taiwan.

However, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that the EDCA sites will not be used for “offensive actions” and that the new bases accessible to the United States are only meant for defense.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during the 126th founding anniversary of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines, on March 22, 2023. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday disclosed that the Philippines is preparing to establish four additional military bases in different parts of the country under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the U.S., including a province facing the South China Sea. This is part of its defense strategy for its largest island Luzon, which is in proximity to Taiwan, in response to China's growing assertiveness in the region. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

“The Philippines will not allow using our bases in any offensive action. It will be used once the Philippines is in need of help,” Marcos told reporters.

He reiterated that the new sites would only help to boost the U.S. disaster response and humanitarian efforts in the Philippines.

The CCP had warned that expanded EDCA sites would “seriously endanger regional peace and stability” and “drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife and damage its economic development.”

Largest US-Philippine Joint Drills

The Philippines and the United States kicked off their largest combat exercises on Tuesday, involving about 17,600 military personnel, including 12,000 American troops, and 111 soldiers from Australia.

U.S. marines take part in a joint amphibious assault exercise as part of the annual 'Balikatan' (shoulder-to-shoulder) U.S.-Philippines war exercises, off the waters of South China Sea on March 31, 2022 in Claveria, Cagayan province, Philippines. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

The Balikatan drill will run through April 28 in Northern Luzon, Palawan, and Antique, featuring live-fire exercises in water. Australian troops will take part in smaller land-based exercises.

Col. Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesperson for Balikatan, said last month that the military drill was not aimed at provoking anybody but rather to improve their maritime defense capabilities.

“We are not extending beyond our territory, and if other countries or critics think in the wrong way, we would like to tell them that this is a form of deterrence and there is a difference between a deterrence and provocation,” Logico said.

Chinese structures and buildings at the man-made island on Johnson reef at the Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea on March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

The Philippines has sought to bolster its military presence in the disputed South China Sea, where Beijing has been aggressively pursuing its territorial claims through coast guard patrols and the construction of artificial islands.