Name: Jan Aerielle D.

Almontero

Course and Section: AB Foreign Service & FS 302

Subject: International Political Economy

Professor: Jumel G. Estrañero

Date: March 5, 2018

A Love Triangle: Philippines Strategic Intent of Love and Hate Relationship, A need for
Survival

“In politics shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendship” Ever since President
Duterte has become the President of the Philippines everything change. The love and hate
relationship between the Philippines and the United States and China has started. It’s not a game
but a serious business in order for the Philippines to survive in the near future.

Looking back in the history, the relationship between the United States and Philippines
has been strong and described as a Special Relationship. Philippines and United States relations
are based on shared history when United States gives its independence. Moreover, the
Philippines modeled its governmental institutions on those of the United States and continue to
share a commitment to democracy and human rights.

On the other hand, when the conflict on the South China Sea has bloom, Philippines and
China has been competing for the sovereign rights over the island. Philippines has also win the
tribunal decision about the island but without the decision being enforce and followed, China
still continues to pursue the claim on the South China Sea. The Philippines not engaging on war
decided to limit their relationship with the United States and started to be an ally with the China.

The current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is supportive of a foreign policy that is
less dependent on the United States, favoring one that prioritizes closer relations with China
instead. To this end, the Philippines is developing stronger security ties with its ASEAN partners
to address internal security concerns and it is establishing a bilateral relationship with China to
address security concerns over the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

Furthermore, the current hegemon of the world is the United States but seeing the
progress, developments and movements of the China, one can conclude that China is aiming to
be the hegemon of the world. The world might be change into a Unipolar wherein the
superpower is not the United States rather but the China itself. With this happenings, the United
States won’t just do nothing but to act to remain on the top. United States current strategy is to
revive the alliance together with Japan, Australia and India that aims for the cooperation and
expansion in the Indo-Pacific Region. Another country joining this Love-Hate Relationship is the
Russia. The Philippines is forming an alliance not only with the United States but also with other
countries as well for it to develop economically and specially with the military matters to
improve the security.

The Philippines as a developing country engages with peaceful negotiations to deal with
conflicts rather than to engage with war. The Philippines might be a failed state when it engages
in war where it is not ready for it. One good example is what happened in the Marawi city. The
construction of this city in Mindanao might take years before it can be revive to its original
condition before the incident happened and it is just one part of the Philippines, if it engages in
war not only the capital city might be damaged but the whole state as well. Not being a Pro-
Duterte nor an Anti-Duterte but this love-hate relationship strategy is good for the Philippines
while being friendly with other developed and powerful countries, the state can benefit and use
this connection to develop economically and politically, and also to gain knowledge, resources,
alliances with them.

After 10 years, war can really occur due to the movements of each leaders of the country.
If one aims to be on top and to be the superpower in the world then the others might also aim to
be on top. No one wants to be dominated but everyone wants the power and power itself is
indestructible if it’s not use right. It can blind someone to abuse his own power the world will be
in chaos and in order to defeat such power a power is also needed and negotiation and peaceful
talk will not be enough. Thus, war will still occur by that time and surely each leaders of this
states will think of their own interests for their own states.

Survival is a must and each and everyone will think of what is good for their own. As of
now, building alliances is a good strategy to continue while still developing. The Philippines
must also use it resource strategically and wisely in order to survive. Peaceful negotiation and
talk must be prioritized and should not be engaged in any conflicts for it not to be the apple of
the eye of the other countries. A quiet yet wise movement in order to develop and benefit from
others, let them be the center of the media and let the Philippines to continue its playing safe
strategy to be ready and well prepared when the time of war comes.