Mark J. Valencia

Opinion | On the South China Sea, Philippine presidential hopefuls tend to be naively nationalist or neocolonialist

A number of candidates in the Philippine’s presidential election are calling for a tougher stance against China over its activity in the South China Sea

Front runner Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, however, seems to realise such a stance would increase the country’s dependence on the US and provoke retaliation from China

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Philippine coastguard personnel monitor Chinese vessels at Sabina Shoal, a South China Sea outcrop claimed by Manila, on May 5, 2021. Photo: Philippine Coastguard/AFP

Mark J. Valencia

Published: 1:00am, 20 Apr 2022Updated: 7:40am, 20 Apr 2022

On May 9, Philippine voters will elect a new president to succeed Rodrigo Duterte. Philippine policy in the South China Sea, as well as towards China and the US, have become major campaign issues. In recent presidential debates, candidates were given the opportunity to explain their position on these issues. Their responses were a mix of nationalist naivete, dangerous nonsense and neocolonialism.

Former defence secretary Norberto Gonzales suggested the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should adopt a majority vote on South China Sea issues, ignoring that this would go against the practice of consensus that defines Asean decision-making.

Vice-President Leni Robredo called for the Philippines to lead in finalising a code of conduct because Manila has the leverage of the “arbitral ruling”. This is naive nonsense. China has refused to recognise the arbitration decision, and thus it is unlikely that the Philippines can successfully use it as political leverage.

Some responses were neocolonialist in nature. Senator Panfilo Lacson advocated strengthening alliances with the US, the European Union, Japan and Australia. This would put the Philippines in China’s bullseye and would be in the strategic interests of the Philippines’ former colonial master Japan.

01:44

Bongbong Marcos Jnr leads in polls in final weeks of Philippine presidential election campaigning

Senator Manny Pacquio said the Philippines should not allow itself to be bullied by China. Although he was a great boxing champion who punched far above his weight, the same cannot be said of the Philippine military vis-à-vis China. It would be folly to try.