South China Sea: Manila urged to form smaller defence pacts as Asean negotiations stall

The Philippines should focus on security ties with neighbours rather than hoping that Asean can secure a Code of Conduct, analysts say

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Philippine Coast Guard personnel wave flags as a Vietnam Coast Guard patrol ship makes a port call at the Port of Manila on August 5. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 2:30pm, 13 Sep 2024

As doubts grow over Asean’s ability to secure an agreement with Beijing to prevent conflict in the South China Sea, analysts urge the Philippines to focus on mini-lateral agreements with neighbours like Vietnam and Malaysia to counter China’s increasing assertiveness.

Dindo Manhit, president of Manila-based think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, told This Week in Asia that mini-lateral partnerships with like-minded countries were Manila’s best course of action to defend its national interests and rein in Beijing’s aggression.

“Additionally, while initially small and targeted, these mini-laterals can eventually converge with other similar partnerships. This broader network of partnerships could then evolve into a larger, more coordinated one, capable of addressing shared regional challenges and strengthening collective security in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.

Manhit argued mini-laterals – small, flexible partnerships between select nations – can allow countries like the Philippines to collaborate more effectively on security concerns such as the South China Sea conflict than broader multilateral frameworks like the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) bloc.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Chinese coastguard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine vessel on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal on March 5. Photo: Reuters

Long-standing tensions between the Manila and Beijing over their overlapping claims have escalated in recent months, leading to a series of clashes in the contested waters including a skirmish between Chinese coastguard officials and Philippine navy servicemen in June that led to a Filipino sailor losing a thumb.