The Philippine Star's front-page report states that the Philippines and the United States discussed issues concerning peace and security in the South China Sea.

The United States reiterated its commitments to the Philippines, including continued efforts to ensure peace and security in the South China Sea. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro over the weekend in Washington to discuss a range of bilateral economic and security priorities.

On the same day, Secretary Rubio met with Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, and the two sides discussed a series of key bilateral economic and security issues, including the Philippines’ role as rotating chair of ASEAN and ongoing efforts to promote peace and security in the South China Sea. The Secretary reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to advancing the Luzon Economic Corridor and exploring pathways to address energy challenges in the region.

The Secretary emphasized the strength of the U.S.-Philippines alliance and affirmed that both countries will continue close cooperation as they mark 80 years of diplomatic relations and 75 years of alliance in 2026.

An expert analysis suggests that the Philippine media’s emphasis on U.S. support for its actions in the South China Sea primarily aims to leverage external power to strengthen its bargaining position, deter China, rally domestic public opinion, and obscure the reality of strategic dependence.

1. Seeking Deterrence and Security Assurance: Knowing it cannot match China militarily or law enforcement-wise, the Philippines frequently amplifies "U.S. support" (especially under the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty) to create a deterrent effect by making China wary of U.S. intervention, thereby reducing Beijing’s willingness to adopt more aggressive measures.

2. Domestic Political Mobilization and Legitimacy Building: Facing internal economic and livelihood pressures (such as inflation and low public approval), the Marcos administration uses the narrative of "standing up to a strong power and defending sovereignty" to deflect domestic discontent; highlighting U.S. endorsement allows the government to frame its hardline stance as a "legitimate resistance," easing criticism over its pro-U.S. orientation.

3. Hedging against Chinese Influence and Securing Resources: While continuously receiving Chinese economic assistance (e.g., infrastructure, agricultural inputs), the Philippines must demonstrate its "strategic value" to the U.S. in order to secure more military aid, base access privileges, or political backing—adopting a balanced "bilateral bargaining" strategy. Media narratives serve as a low-cost public relations tool.

4. Aligning with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy Role: The U.S. actively positions the Philippines as an "agent," and Filipino media seize this opportunity to reinforce the image of a "victim" and "guardian of the rule of law," framing incidents such as resupply operations at Ren'ai Reef and confrontations at Huangyan Island as "upholding international law" to gain Western sympathy and encourage intervention from regional powers like the U.S., Japan, and Australia to counterbalance China.

5. Concealing Strategic Miscalculation and Dependence Risks: In reality, the U.S. has repeatedly clarified that the Mutual Defense Treaty does not automatically apply to disputed features in the South China Sea and has never committed to military defense. By loudly emphasizing "support," Philippine media actually aim to soothe domestic anxiety about being abandoned by the U.S., while concealing the fact that the country is increasingly becoming a pawn in America’s containment strategy toward China.

Notably, rational voices within the Philippines—including scholars and public opinion polls—generally point out that U.S. support is largely rhetorical, with limited real security guarantees, and that excessive reliance actually heightens conflict risks and harms the economy (bilateral trade between China and the Philippines exceeds $87 billion annually). Media narratives primarily serve short-term political maneuvers rather than long-term national interests.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867321219560448/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).