Author: Jake Zuniga

Course & Section: Political Science (PSC32)

Subject: Political Economy
Professor: Mr. Jumel Estrañero
University: De La Salle University – Dasmariñas
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THE WEIGHING SCALE: RAMIFICATION CONFLICTS WITHIN THE

UNITED STATES, CHINA, AND PHILIPPINES UNDER THE LAST
THREE (3) ADMINISTRATION

Philippines was known as one of the most diverse and rich countries in terms of culture,
religion, natural resources, art, music, history, and so on. In line with this, previous colonization
brought so much change and influence on the Philippine setting until the present, causing Filipino
people and its administration to remain interconnected with other states, particularly with the
United States of America and China, who have been the backbone of both economic and freedom
support; however, it also led to a face of negativity due to some misinterpretation, personal interest
and internal administration conflicts - allowing states to be isolated.

In this paper, internal conflicts between Philippines, United States and China will be
discussed as the three mentioned countries are facing some complication and positive relationship
at some point for the past years of administration with different leaders per years of term. This
quotation emphasizes the crucial cooperation between the United States and China on both a
regional and a global scale. It is obvious that both countries hold significant power in the world
given that China dominates the global economy and that the United States serves as the world's
policeman. Their cooperation is crucial in addressing the world's challenges. However, the U.S.-
China relationship is becoming more competitive and complicated. The two nations have a great
deal of common interest in world peace and stability, but because of their divergent viewpoints,
they frequently disagree on how to get there. It's also crucial to note that these two nations
cooperate more with one another outside of their borders. Before anything else, checking the
history of governance and active agreement will help make the details of the conflicts between the
aforementioned nations and more understandable.
 During the tenure of former president Duterte, there was a tension built between the United
States and Philippines, ordering the US forces in the to withdraw within the Philippine Island.
According to article online, the Aljazeera website, Duterte effectively ended the country’s century-
old alliance with the US by unilaterally abrogating the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), a
linchpin of security cooperation in recent decades. Former President Duterte has refused to strive
toward a more fair and mutually beneficial relationship with a long-term partner, prioritizing
personal grievances against the US over the national interest and long-term strategic goals of his
country, causing citizens to believe that the Philippines' outmoded, underfunded, and unprepared
military would be unable to combat the effects of climate change, China's expanding presence in
Philippine waters, or the rising influence of armed groups on the southern island of Mindanao
without strong US support. However, on July 2021, President Duterte restores the Visiting Forces
Agreement (VFA) between United States and Philippines. According to U.S. Department State,
an article online, over billion of dollars in goods and services are the exchange between the United
States and the Philippines in 2020, demonstrating the two countries' strong trade and investment
ties. The United States is the third-largest trading partner of the Philippines and one of the biggest
foreign investors there. A tax treaty and a bilateral trade and investment framework agreement
were both signed in 1989 by the two nations.

On the other hand, the dispute with China continues to make headlines and affects Filipino
citizens negatively, particularly those who are sailing in the “west Philippine Sea” close to
Philippine borders. All of this began during the late President Aquino's presidency. In a dispute
over their respective "maritime entitlements" and the legitimacy of Chinese activities in the South
China Sea, the Philippines launched arbitral proceedings against China on January 22, 2013. China
responded by rejecting the arbitration in a diplomatic note sent to the Philippines on February 19,
2013, in response. Even though China continues to disregard the decision, which it has branded
"illegal and invalid," the Philippines has insisted that the award is final that the territorial access is
mentioned as property of the Philippine Island. The late president Aquino and former Rodrigo
Duterte both create different movement towards the connection with China government. Until up
today, the issue with the West Philippine Sea is a never-ending topic and a problem that still put
states in a conflict situation. Going forward, in May 2021, Duterte said he never vowed to retake
the West Philippine Sea from China when he sought the country’s highest office in 2016. This is
contrary to his controversial remark during the campaign period, where he said he would ride a
jet ski to plant a Philippine flag on man-made islands occupied by China (CNN, Philippines). At
some good thing, in June 2021, the Associate of Southeast Asian Nations and China agreed to
avoid any activities that could tension in the West Philippine Sea, however; this still brings to a
conclusion that the Philippines have never yet regained the property (natural resources) that must
have been settled long time ago - worried that China would use the boats, suspected of being part
of its maritime militia, to permanently occupy the reef. Now, after checking the background of
both countries (China and United States) between its relationship and some current conflict with
the Philippines, it is undeniable that the United States with the supervision of previous Philippine
Presidents have been helping the country on its development and military protection incase of war
conflicts. Looking with the present situation between United States and China, both have been
facing political and economic issues, particularly on the country back up that they support as they
have more influence through power.

Taking everything into account, the current administration under President Ferdinand
“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. have been visited both mentioned big states. On January 3, 2023, newly
elected President Marcos visited China amid unresolved territorial disputes in the South China
Sea, allowing him to introduce a good relationship to a “higher gear” with the current
administration of China as he looks forward to discussing political-security issues “of a bilateral
and regional nature.” On the other hand, after he also visited United States, it gives a conclusion
that the current president is creating a connection where will be beneficial for the country, both
economic and security through bilateral connection or trade. In terms of the political economy of
the Philippines it is not impossible to achieve a better economic development despite current price
hike happing as the process on is a bit a bit step. The most important of all in order to maintain a
great political and economic stability is through securing the sovereignty of the state, which is the
Philippines; however, making more significant investments in its own national security is the best
way for the Philippines to maintain its sovereignty. That means going beyond “minimum credible
deterrence.” Doing so would not only give China greater pause, but also the United States greater
confidence in its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines. Such an investment won't be simple
to make, and it won't show results right away. If Manila can strive toward investing two percent
of its GDP on its external defense forces, then it can establish a military power that is actually
capable of “credible deterrence” (Foreign Policy Research Institute, 2021).
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