President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Signs Law to Incentivize Defense Firms to Produce on Philippine Soil
While the law was not immediately published, the approved version in the Senate required firms selling arms to the Philippine military to have production in-country (Philippine Star)
Philippines, South Korea Step up Security Ties
The countries boosted their bilateral ties for the first time in seventy-five years during a state visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to Manila today; they agreed to cooperate on defense production and maritime security (Yonhap)
WaPo: South China Sea Tensions Disrupt Operations on Undersea Cables
Firms that operate cables beneath the South China Sea told the Washington Post that it has become increasingly difficult to get Chinese permission to install and maintain cables there over increasing geopolitical tensions; the U.S. government, meanwhile, has urged firms and governments to avoid working with Chinese companies, leading to delays and rerouting of cable projects (WaPo)
China Test Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
China said it fired a missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean this morning, the country’s first public test launch into international waters in decades; while Beijing called the event a “routine” part of annual training, several analysts suggest this is unusual and could be a signal or posturing to the United States (BBC)
Sullivan Wraps Trip to China as Pacific Island Nations Talk Policing
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and held rare talks with a top Chinese general as part of his visit to manage bilateral relations this week; he is returning to Washington with plans for U.S. President Joe Biden to hold a phone call with Xi in the coming weeks (Bloomberg)
The White House said Sullivan discussed security issues in the Taiwan Strait, Ukraine, and South China Sea, and that “both sides welcomed ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication” (White House)
Xi said the two countries should be “a stable source of world peace,” Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported (FT)
Sullivan’s trip came as Pacific Island nations have been meeting in Tonga this week to weigh their own responses to security concerns; they committed yesterday to a $271 million Australia-funded policing program that some island nations described as trying to curb China’s security role in the region (AFP)
China, Philippines Blame Each Other for Collision Between Ships Near Sabina Shoal
China and the Philippines have been increasingly at odds over these waters, but this is the first time such a collision has occurred in the disputed area (WaPo)
U.S., Australia, Canada, Philippines Hold First Joint Drills in South China Sea
The two-day military exercise began today and includes both naval and air force units (Channel News Asia)
The Philippines and Japan held their first joint exercise in the waterway last week; the new drills come amid concerns over Chinese actions in the area (AFP)
The Philippine military said that China “tailed” their exercise (Reuters)
Germany Aims to Sign New Defense Pact With Philippines This Year
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the agreement under discussion would allow joint military training and potential Philippine purchases of German weapons on a visit to Manila today (Philippine Star,AP)
Philippines, Japan Hold First Joint Naval Drills in South China Sea
The two countries have increased their military cooperation amid concerns over Chinese actions in the Indo-Pacific; they followed similar exercises two days before between the Philippines and the United States (AFP)
Washington Announces $500 Million in New Military Aid to Philippines
The new funding would go toward modernizing the Philippine military and coast guard, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today on a visit to Manila; he added that President Biden is proposing an additional $128 million this year for infrastructure projects on Philippine military bases where the United States has access (Straits Times)
Quad Foreign Ministers Agree to Increase Cyber, Maritime Cooperation in Tokyo
Foreign ministers from the so-called Quad countries of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan said at a meeting today that they would cooperate to boost the security of undersea cables and extend the scope of a partnership on maritime awareness; without directly mentioning China, they said they were “seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China seas” (Nikkei)
Today’s meeting came a day after Washington and Tokyo announced they will upgrade a U.S. military headquarters in Japan (Nikkei)
China, Philippines Reach Preliminary Deal Over South China Sea Flashpoint
The two countries reached a “provisional arrangement” to help de-escalate tensions in a fiercely disputed shoal of the South China Sea, where their sea forces have faced off in recent months, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said (FT). The countries did not release the text of the agreement; Beijing said it had agreed to “allow” Philippine resupply missions to access the area but said it would “supervise” them (AP)
China, Philippines to Establish Three New Channels to Handle Communication Over Maritime Disputes
The development is according to an unnamed Philippines diplomatic source and a document seen by Reuters; a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, when asked about the agreement on new communication channels, said “China has always been committed to working with the Philippines to properly address maritime issues through dialogue” (Reuters)
Philippines Says Chinese Actions in South China Sea Amount to ‘Piracy’
Manila said that a Chinese attempt to disrupt a Philippine resupply mission in the South China Sea earlier this week led to injuries and theft of property (Nikkei)
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson blamed the Philippines for the altercation and reasserted Beijing’s control over the maritime area near the disputed Spratly Islands (CNN)
United States Reaffirms Commitment to Defend the Philippines
The United States reaffirmed its obligation to defend the Philippines, a treaty ally, in the region’s territorial disputes; Monday’s hostilities are the most serious in recent months, according to the Associated Press (AP)
Chinese and Philippine Vessels Collide in South China Sea
A Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship collided near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea today; both countries claim the territory belongs to their exclusive economic zones and territorial waters (AP)
Chinese Directive on Maritime Detentions to Take Effect
A new provision set to take effect on Saturday directs the Chinese Coast Guard to detain foreign nationals who cross sea borders set by Beijing; the Philippines’ president and foreign ministry condemned the plans, with the foreign ministry saying China “would be in direct violation of international law” if it detains people from inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (Nikkei)
Philippine DefensSecretary Says China Presents “Existential Threat” to Regional Security
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro publicly stated today that China presents an “existential threat” to the security of the region, adding that the Philippines will not back down to China’s “bullying” (FT)
China Plans to Build Floating Nuclear Power Stations in the South China Sea
China decided to resume plans to construct a wave of floating nuclear power stations in the South China Sea to provide energy to China’s artificial islands and their military infrastructure and airports; this move will likely cause the United States and other partners to increase their presence in the South China Sea (Newsweek)
Japan, Philippines Sign Defense Pact Allowing for Troop Exchanges
The Philippines is the first Asian country to sign a Reciprocal Access Agreement for troop deployments with Japan as the two countries position against what they see as growing Chinese aggression; Japan has made similar deals with Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) (Philippine Star)
China Deploys Dozens of Ships to Disputed Scarborough Shoal
A Philippine civilian group of fishing boats prepared to sail toward the area today to assert Philippine territorial claims; officials in the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard said they were sending ships to escort the civilian protest flotilla (NYT)
Philippine Official Calls for Expulsion of Chinese Diplomats as Maritime Tensions Rise
Philippines National Security Advisor Eduardo Año called for the expulsion today following an alleged leak of a phone conversation between a Chinese diplomat, stating that China’s embassy had carried out “repeated acts of engaging and dissemination of disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation”(Reuters)
The leak reportedly concerned engagement protocol in the South China Sea, where Chinese ships shot water cannons at the Philippines’ ships last week (WaPo)
In response to Año’s statement, China’s foreign ministry called for its diplomats to be allowed to “perform their duties normally” in the Philippines (Nikkei)
As tensions remain high between the two countries, China also criticized the U.S. transit of a warship through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday; the U.S. Navy called the operation a routine transit meant to uphold freedom of navigation (AP)
The Philippines Accuses China of Malign Influence
The Philippines’ military Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner’s accusation follows the release of an audio transcript by a local newspaper in which a Filipino admiral agrees to China’s proposal for de-escalation in the disputed South China Sea; in response, China’s Foreign Ministry stated that factual evidence could not be neglected, but Brawner claimed that such reports are meant to divert attention from China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the sea (Reuters)
Philippines, United States Hold Naval Exercise Near Taiwan
The countries simulated their response to an invasion of the northern Philippine island of Itbayat, near Taiwan, as part of joint military drills today; the United States is helping to build a warehouse to upgrade infrastructure on the island (Bloomberg)
Chinese Coast Guard Fires Water Cannons at Philippine Ships in Flare-Up
Chinese vessels shot water cannons at Philippine vessels today, damaging one of their railings in the Scarborough Shoal area in the South China Sea, the Philippines said; the shoal lies in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, but China’s coast guard has maintained a presence there for several years (CNN)
Manila said it was carrying out a “legitimate patrol,” while Beijing’s foreign ministry said the Philippine ships had “intruded” (Nikkei)