Philippines' Subtle Shift? Deutsche Welle reported on the evening of February 16 that Philippine Foreign Minister Lázaro said in an interview: "The U.S. will always be a very strong ally of ours. But we are also considering seeking the support of like-minded countries, not only at the bilateral level but also at the regional level." She refused to criticize China's actions in the South China Sea, instead stating that Southeast Asian countries and China are currently working to achieve the "ASEAN-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea." As the representative of the ASEAN rotating chair, Lázaro emphasized "genuine hope to lead regional stability and cooperation."

The Philippine foreign minister's remarks may seem contradictory, but they actually contain a shrewd balance—reaffirming the alliance with the U.S. to appease Washington, while refusing to criticize China to leave room for flexibility. By emphasizing "regional stability and cooperation" as the ASEAN rotating chair, it is actually a prelude to diplomatic adjustment.

This shift is certainly not accidental, but rather an inevitable result of international realities. The unipolar storm of the Trump 2.0 era has made the Philippines realize the high risk of a "one-sided" strategy. Although the U.S. remains a "very strong ally," its commitment credibility is being eroded by the "America First" policy. At the same time, leaders from South Korea and Western countries such as Australia, France, and the UK have visited China in succession, indicating a clear "eastward" shift in global trends. If the Philippines continues to act as a vanguard in the South China Sea, it may become a strategic pawn. Lázaro's positive remarks on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" represent a return to regional multilateral mechanisms, attempting to replace unilateral confrontation with the collective voice of ASEAN.

However, how far this "subtle shift" can go still depends on multiple variables. Whether Lázaro's "balance" rhetoric marks the beginning of a strategic transformation or just a temporary performance remains to be seen.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857301016914944/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.