Philippines Strengthens South China Sea Peace with Global Partners
The Philippines will continue to work closely with the United States and other key partners in the region and beyond to ensure peace, security, and defense in the South China Sea amid ongoing challenges posed by China. This commitment comes from Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo during a press briefing on June 2, 2025.
Secretary Manalo emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing the South China Sea situation. “We base our security needs on dialogue with various US officials,” he said, highlighting the strong ties under the current US administration. “The US commitment remains strong in our region, and we will work with the US along with other partners such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Vietnam, and Brunei.”
Dialogue with Key Allies
Manalo also stressed the Philippines’ firm commitment to partnerships with the European Union and its member states. This approach reflects the country’s strategic effort to maintain regional stability through diplomacy and alliances.
During a bilateral meeting, Secretary Manalo and European Commission Vice President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, discussed shared goals for peace and adherence to international law. Kallas reaffirmed the EU’s stance, saying, “We reject any unilateral changes to the status quo, including the use of coercion.” She added that defending international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is crucial to maintaining order in the global sphere.
US-China Tensions and Regional Security
The recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore shed light on rising tensions, with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warning of an “imminent” threat from China to global peace. This statement drew sharp criticism from China, which accused the US of provoking division in the region.
Despite these tensions, Manalo expressed confidence in the Philippine-US Treaty Alliance. He acknowledged China as a security challenge but stressed that the Philippines pursues peaceful means, dialogue, and diplomacy to address these issues.
“Naturally, China is a challenge, security challenge for the Philippines, and certainly we have undertaken actions, as you are well aware, of trying to address that through peaceful means, through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.
Commitment to Peace and Law
Kallas also reaffirmed the EU’s support for partners committed to international law. She warned that failure to defend legal frameworks like UNCLOS could lead to significant global instability.
This united front between the Philippines, the US, the EU, and other regional allies underscores a shared goal: maintaining peace and security in the South China Sea through cooperation and respect for international law.
For more news and updates on South China Sea peace, visit Filipinokami.com.