Dr. Lowell Bautista and Asst. Prof. Nathaniel Candelaria recently published a chapter entitled, “Tightrope Diplomacy: Philippine Foreign Policy Recalibration Under Marcos Jr. amid South China Sea Tensions and Political Rifts” in the latest Southeast Asian Affairs (2025) published by ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
The abstract reads:
In 2024, the Philippines, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., navigated a pivotal year in foreign policy shaped by rising geopolitical tensions and internal political challenges. This chapter examines the Philippines’ recalibration towards a more assertive stance in the South China Sea, marked by a decisive pivot back to the United States and the pursuit of stronger regional partnerships. High-profile defence agreements and expanded military exercises underscored the administration’s resolve to counter China’s maritime assertiveness. Simultaneously, domestic political turbulence, including the collapse of the “UniTeam” alliance and growing scrutiny of the Duterte legacy, has influenced this recalibration, with foreign policy serving as both a strategic response to external threats and a tool for domestic legitimacy. The chapter also explores the broader implications of this shift, highlighting how the Philippines balances sovereignty, alliance-building, and adherence to a rules-based international order. While these moves have bolstered national pride and international credibility, they have also drawn scepticism from ASEAN neighbours wary of deeper US alignment. Ultimately, the chapter provides a nuanced analysis of how the Marcos administration’s foreign policy reflects a high-stakes effort to secure the place of the Philippines in an increasingly polarized Indo-Pacific region.
Access it here: https://bookshop.iseas.edu.sg/publication/7960