2023: A Milestone Year For Philippine International Security Relations (original) (raw)
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Alliance, Partnerships, And The Philippines' National Security Strategy
Eurasia Review, 2018
At eve of the 2018 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, European Council President Donald Tusk, in response to the criticisms from President Trump, reminded Washington to “appreciate your allies, after all you don’t have that many.” Tusk also called on Europe “spend more on your [defense], because everyone respects an ally that is well-prepared and equipped.” The same message is also true for the members of a network of alliances and partnerships—particularly for relatively smaller and weaker states, as well as their leaders—in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, a region facing immense foreign policy challenges against the backdrop of major powers competing for geopolitical preeminence. https://www.eurasiareview.com/03122018-alliance-partnerships-and-the-philippines-national-security-strategy-analysis/
The Philippines Japan Security Relationship: A New Golden Age?
Fulcrum Commentary ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, 2023
While Japanese PM Kishida’s recent visit to Manila points to the upward momentum of the Japan-Philippines Strategic Partnership, it will also be a litmus test of Japan’s strategic goals in the rest of Southeast Asia. https://fulcrum.sg/the-philippines-japan-security-relationship-a-new-golden-age/
The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, 2014
The article examines the reasons behind the Aquino Administration’s instantaneous support for the Obama Administration’s pivot to Asia as the Philippines negotiated and signed a framework agreement on enhanced defense cooperation with the U.S. This outright backing stems from President Aquino’s determination to counter China’s expansionism in the South China Sea. The 2012 Scarborough Shoal stand-off between the Philippines and China has validated the immediacy of this security arrangement which jibes with the U.S. strategic policy. In conclusion, the article contends that a small power like the Philippines--- when confronted by an emergent and potentially expansionist power—is not necessarily helpless since it has foreign policy choices, as well as the power to chart its own destiny.
Philippine-Australia Dialogue: Security Dimensions of the Comprehensive Partnership
Philippine-Australia Dialogue: Security Dimensions of the Comprehensive Partnership, 2018
This policy paper provides an assessment of convergent security concerns and interests between the Philippines and Australia within the framework of the Philippine-Australia Comprehensive Partnership. The insights presented in this paper reflect the views and analyses of experts who participated in the Philippine-Australia Dialogue: Security Dimensions of the Comprehensive Partnership held in Manila last June 2018. Key areas of discussions focused on regional security architecture, maritime security and cooperation, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity. The overall findings conclude that continuous dialogue between Australia and the Philippines is essential. Moving forward, track 1.5 and track 2 interactions offer opportunities for Australia and the Philippines to continuously collaborate in the formulation and evaluation of policies to address common challenges and achieve shared goals and interests. The Philippines and Australia must enhance their maritime security cooperation through regular sharing of strategic assessments and information-sharing. As a critical party in the emerging power dynamics in the South China Sea, the Philippines’ geostrategic location situated between the Pacific and Indian ocean is a viable site for launching deterrence and offensive moves should potential conflict ensue. Australia can offer assistance to enhance the Philippines’s territorial defense capabilities, such as air defense and anti-submarine warfare. During the Marawi siege, Australia extended assistance by providing reconnaissance, and intelligence support, training assistance and joint maritime patrols. There must be increased public discussion to raise awareness and support for Australia’s efforts in Marawi and its history of counterterrorism cooperation with the Philippines. This must not only 3 4 Executive Summary reflect the state of bilateral relations but also the engagement of Australia and ASEAN in fighting terrorism. In the area of cybersecurity, the Philippines and Australia should work together on capacity-building and training opportunities. A dedicated Track 1.5 track dialogue may be conducted to boost the collaborative relationship on cyber issues that involve not only the government but also civil society groups. Also, the Philippines could participate in regional cyber security simulations. Australia has been working with Singapore in this area. Timely information sharing is also a key area of collaboration. Such shared information will be useful given the prominence of common actors involved in persistent cyber-attacks and espionage in the Indo Pacific region. With the immense challenges that the international rules-based order is currently facing, the Philippine-Australia security dialogue is critical. Both countries are pivotal actors in protecting and promoting the set of norms and values that underpin the rules-based order, given the longstanding history of people-to-people relationships, institutional partnerships, and their common commitment to the rule of law and democracy. These common interests and shared values are further solidified in the Comprehensive Partnership signed by both states. The Comprehensive Partnership serves as a platform to explore research collaboration and continuous dialogue in addressing converging issues and interests. The success of liberating Marawi City from the ISIS-affiliated Maute group demonstrated the value of such partnership in streamlining technical and intelligence-gathering cooperation in counterterrorism. Aside from counterterrorism, Australia and the Philippines must focus on the growing security threats in cyber space, maritime cooperation, natural disasters, and climate change. It is therefore crucial for both U.S. allies to include these issues in their succeeding Track 1.5 dialogue engagement. Furthermore, it is also worthwhile for both states to elevate their bilateral cooperation to a strategic level. Through strategic partnership, both states could become more flexible and agile in formulating common strategies and responding to converging security threats.
2009
A region of immense diversity marked by complex security challenges, Southeast Asia has been in the strategic radar of many countries, particularly the extra-regional powers, because of its inherent strategic significance.1 During the cold war, Southeast Asia was enmeshed in intense ideological internal armed conflicts and interstate wars that prompted major powers and other affected countries to get inevitably involved.2 After the end of the cold war, Southeast Asia’s strategic significance became more prominent because of the region’s remarkable economic dynamism propelled by greater regional cooperation through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).