The Philippines is facing mounting pressure from China to yield its sovereign claims in the South China Sea, according to the country’s Secretary of National Defense, Gilberto Teodoro. During a recent meeting with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles in Canberra, Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines was a “victim of Chinese aggression,” echoing long-standing concerns over China’s expansionist actions in one of the world’s most geopolitically sensitive regions.
This latest diplomatic exchange comes amid a backdrop of increased defense collaboration between the Philippines and Australia, with both nations signaling heightened apprehension over China’s influence in the region. While China asserts rights to nearly the entire South China Sea, the Philippines, along with Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, maintains overlapping claims, some of which are backed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s 2016 ruling, which invalidated Beijing’s assertions.
The ongoing tensions between China and the Philippines are underscored by a series of high-stakes confrontations over disputed territories, most notably the Scarborough Shoal. Scarborough, a triangular-shaped coral reef claimed by both nations, holds significant strategic and economic importance, serving as a fishing ground and a potential base for military operations. China’s efforts to assert control over this and other territories have intensified, with reports of Chinese maritime forces increasingly encroaching on Philippine-claimed waters.
Secretary Teodoro’s recent comments highlight what he described as an escalating demand from Beijing to relinquish Philippine sovereignty in the area. “What we see is an increasing demand by Beijing for us to concede our sovereign rights in the area,” he remarked. Teodoro also labeled China’s actions as “aggressive” and in violation of international norms, stressing that “nobody has actually supported their actions or activities.”
China’s assertive claims have not only placed it at odds with the Philippines but have also caused friction with other Southeast Asian countries. The South China Sea, a passage for over $3 trillion in annual trade, is a vital economic lifeline and a focal point for power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Philippines and Australia have deepened their defense relationship in recent months, a move analysts see as a response to China’s increasing assertiveness. The recent meeting between Teodoro and Marles was their fifth since August 2023, signaling a rapidly evolving defense alignment. Following the establishment of a strategic partnership in September 2023, the two nations held their inaugural joint maritime and air patrols in the South China Sea, an area increasingly marked by Chinese naval presence.
Marles voiced Australia’s commitment to the Philippines, expressing interest in closer collaboration with the Philippine defense sector. To solidify these ties, Australia plans to send an engineering assessment team to the Philippines in early 2025. This partnership is part of a broader regional strategy to curb China’s influence by enhancing cooperation with Southeast Asian nations through increased joint exercises, defense investments, and capacity-building initiatives.
The recent moves reflect a pivot towards regional cooperation as a countermeasure against China’s maneuvers. Notably, the Philippines also participated in military exercises in Australia this year, marking a first in joint training with Australian forces and underscoring the two countries’ shared concerns over Chinese ambitions in the South China Sea.
China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea rest on what it refers to as the “nine-dash line,” a demarcation Beijing uses to justify its territorial control over nearly the entire sea. This claim, however, was invalidated by the PCA in 2016, following a case brought by the Philippines. The ruling, which China has dismissed as illegitimate, stated that Beijing’s claims had no basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The PCA ruling has bolstered the Philippines’ stance on the issue, giving it a foundation to contest China’s actions. However, with Beijing dismissing the ruling and continuing its activities in the disputed waters, the Philippines has found itself at a challenging impasse, requiring strong diplomatic support from allies.
During his Canberra visit, Teodoro reiterated that China’s actions contradict international law, stating, “Although they [China] claim to act under the aegis of international law, everybody knows that what they’re doing is contrary to the tenets of international law.” The Secretary of Defense highlighted the importance of defense partnerships as a means of deterrence, viewing alliances with countries like Australia as crucial to reinforcing the Philippines’ security posture and resilience.
The South China Sea dispute has placed considerable strain on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a bloc that includes both claimant and non-claimant countries. While ASEAN has historically pursued consensus-based diplomacy, China’s assertive claims and activities have led to divisions within the group regarding how best to respond.
Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia have also experienced confrontations with China in the South China Sea, but a cohesive ASEAN response remains elusive. Analysts suggest that China’s economic influence over several ASEAN members has created a “silent divide,” with some countries less willing to challenge Beijing’s actions due to trade dependencies and security concerns.
In response, countries like the Philippines have pursued independent diplomatic and defense partnerships, as evidenced by their strengthened ties with both Australia and the United States. These partnerships, many experts believe, may offer a pragmatic approach for smaller nations in balancing against China’s influence without straining regional unity within ASEAN.
Amid rising tensions in the region, the United States has also stepped up its presence and commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. American naval vessels regularly conduct operations near disputed territories to assert freedom of navigation, a move welcomed by countries like the Philippines and viewed by China as provocation.
The U.S. has recently intensified its defense cooperation with the Philippines, including through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which grants the U.S. access to key Philippine military bases. This collaboration also underscores Washington’s renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific, where it seeks to counter China’s assertiveness by supporting allies with defense capabilities and strategic military training.
This trilateral alignment between the Philippines, Australia, and the United States demonstrates a collective front to address the challenges posed by China. According to Secretary Teodoro, the Philippines has earmarked over $33 billion for modernizing its military capabilities, including acquiring advanced fighter jets and mid-range missiles. Such measures, along with the defense ties with allies, are seen as critical in enhancing deterrence against Chinese incursions.
China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea hold profound strategic and economic consequences for the region. As a vital trade artery, the waterway supports billions of dollars in trade annually, with nearly one-third of global maritime commerce passing through its waters. Control over this passage would afford China significant influence over global trade and regional security dynamics.
For the Philippines and other claimants, safeguarding sovereignty over parts of the South China Sea is not only a matter of national pride but also critical to ensuring access to fishing grounds and potential underwater resources, including oil and natural gas reserves. The region’s growing demand for energy has heightened the stakes, with estimates suggesting that the South China Sea could hold vast untapped reserves capable of bolstering the economies of regional states.
Australia’s increasing engagement in the South China Sea represents a recognition of these broader stakes, reflecting its own economic interests and commitment to a rules-based order. By enhancing military ties with the Philippines, Australia is taking concrete steps toward maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific, where it seeks to balance economic cooperation with China while safeguarding regional security.
