The Philippines’ domestic politics and its impact on the trilateral partnership with the US and Japan
The Philippines’ domestic politics are playing a crucial role in its trilateral partnership with the US and Japan, according to a recent article by Elizabeth Freund Larus and James Rice. The three nations recently announced a new “trilateral chapter” focused on maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and countering China’s aggressive actions in the region.
However, the success of this partnership hinges on the stability of the Philippines’ domestic politics. While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has shown a willingness to align with the US, former President Rodrigo Duterte and China are actively working to undermine this cooperation. Duterte’s faction, through media outlets and social media propaganda, is pushing for closer ties with China, while Chinese influence operations are also at play in the country.
One concerning development is the investigation into a Philippine mayor, Alice Guo, suspected of being a Chinese asset due to irregularities in her background and ties to Chinese-backed online gambling firms involved in espionage and other illegal activities. Additionally, other Philippine officials, like Cagayan Provincial Governor Manuel Mamba, are openly courting Beijing and opposing the US military presence in the country.
Despite these challenges, there are factors working in favor of the trilateral partnership, such as the strong cultural and military ties between the US and the Philippines, as well as the lack of tangible benefits from Duterte’s pro-China policies. The article suggests several policy initiatives to strengthen the partnership, including demonstrating support through military assistance, fostering closer ties among allies, and sharing intelligence to counter Chinese threats.
In conclusion, the article emphasizes the importance of addressing the domestic political challenges in the Philippines to ensure the success of the trilateral partnership with the US and Japan in countering China’s influence in the region.
