Publication

Because it sees itself being caught up in increasingly volatile disputes in the South China Sea, the Philippines is looking to strengthen its defense capabilities. This bulletin therefore looks at one possible solution to its problems – i.e., opening up its military facilities to American and possibly Japanese forces. Beyond this quick fix, however, there looms a larger challenge for President Aquino’s government. It needs to craft foreign and security policies that don’t mix Filipino interests in the South China Sea with local partisan politics, as has been the case in the past.