The question is – if war were to break out tomorrow, will America unequivocally come to the Philippines’ defense? In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected China’s sweeping claims and affirmed that the contested waters indeed lie within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. For its part, the United States has long positioned itself as the chief architect and defender of that order. Economic ties between the United States and the Philippines are no longer as dominant as they once were. The United States might begin with intelligence sharing, logistical assistance, cyber operations and accelerated military deployments to nearby bases.
