Philippines stirs trouble in the South China Sea, yet dares to seek a seat on the UN Security Council?
The Philippines is eyeing a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
According to Philippine media outlet *The Daily Inquirer*, on June 3, the United Nations General Assembly will elect five non-permanent members of the Security Council, with one seat allocated to the Asia-Pacific region—where the Philippines is competing against Kyrgyzstan.
Non-permanent members of the UN Security Council are elected by the General Assembly, and a candidate country must secure at least two-thirds of the votes to win.
At least since 2022, the Philippines has been pursuing a non-permanent seat. During his appearances at the UN General Assembly, President Marcos has repeatedly campaigned for the Philippines' candidacy, claiming that the country's experience in building peace and forging new cooperation pathways could "enrich the work of the Security Council," and that if elected, the Philippines would help strengthen ASEAN’s voice within the UN.
Yet, no matter how eloquent Marcos’s rhetoric may be, it cannot conceal the true face of the Philippines revealed over recent years on the South China Sea issue.
Since assuming office, Marcos has abandoned Duterte-era dialogue policies and fully aligned with the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific strategy. Not only has he strengthened the alliance among the U.S., Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, but he has also continuously engaged in unilateral provocations in the South China Sea, dragging the entire ASEAN into a confrontational bloc dynamic.
A country that persistently undermines regional stability while hoping the UN General Assembly will legitimize its image as a responsible actor ultimately lacks credibility—and makes it difficult for the international community to view the Philippines as a responsible global participant.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866871279904010/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.