The Philippines and the South China Sea

The Philippines is a core claimant to the South China Sea (SCS) maritime and territorial disputes. This claimant status, in addition to its proximity to key contested areas, puts Manila on the frontlines of the disputes. In this chapter, we provide a basis for understanding the origin of Manila's claims, the actors and factors that shape Philippine perceptions of the SCS disputes, its interests and grand strategy, and finally, their implications. Our core premise is that Philippine interests in the SCS disputes are shaped by its identity as a maritime nation with archipelagic status. These intersect with a history of repeated colonization by outside powers, resulting in an inherent sense of insecurity emanating from the maritime domain. Manila's interests are also shaped by its material needs, namely, its growing demand for hydrocarbons and its reliance on fisheries. These ideational and material interests produce a grand strategy predicated on promoting dominant interpretation of international law norms as a means to solve disputes, utilizing multilateral and regional organization to enmesh the interests of outside powers, and strengthening its alliance with the United States to build capacity, forge new partnerships, and deter possible aggressors.