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Volume 83 – No. 4

Weakness and Gambits in 21st Century Philippine Foreign Policy

Renato Cruz De Castro
De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines

Keywords: Philippine foreign policy, Philippine-U.S. relations, overseas Filipino workers, foreign policy of weak powers, development diplomacy, Philippine-China relations

DOI: 10.5509/2010834697

  • English Abstract
  • Chinese Abstract
  • French Abstract

 

How do resource-starved weak powers adjust to a changing regional system? Looking at the Philippine case, this article examines the direction of the country’s foreign policy under the Arroyo administration. Observably, this foreign policy is directed to the generation of external resources that could address the country’s main security challenge: domestic insurgencies. To pursue this internal agenda, the Philippines engages both the United States and China in a delicate balancing act. The government has also jump-started its program of development diplomacy, with directives for its embassies and consulates abroad to promote the country’s export trade and to protect the rights and welfare of 8.5 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). It also utilizes multilateral organizations to advance its national development objectives. However, the country’s inherent weakness has constrained its ability to exploit optimally the opportunities created by its fluid external environment. In conclusion, the article contends that unless it consolidates its political base and enhances its economic competitiveness, the Philippines will remain a quintessential weak power in the world of the strong in East Asia.

二十一世紀菲律賓外交政策中的弱點與開局棋法

渴求資源的弱小政權如何應對區域體系的改變?本文以菲律賓為例,攷察了菲阿羅約當局的外交政策。很顯然,該外交政策意在通過引導外部資源解決該國主要的安全挑戰:國內的暴動。為實現這一國內議程,菲律賓與美國和中國捲入了微妙的平衡遊戲。菲政府還迅速啟動了其外交拓展項目,指示其在外的領使館積極推廣本國的出口貿易以及保護其海外八百五十萬菲律賓勞工的權利和福利。此外菲政府還利用多邊組織來促進其國內的發展目標。但是,菲律賓固有的弱點侷限了其最大限度地利用菲流動的外部環境所創造的機會。總之,本文認為,除非鞏固其政治基礎並增強其經濟競爭力,菲律賓仍將是強大的東亞世界中的弱小政權。

Faiblesses et Tactiques de la Politique étrangère des Philippines au Vingt et unième Siècle

Comment des puissances anémiques et manquant de ressources s’adaptent-elles à un système régional en évolution constante? Prenant en exemple le cas des Philippines, cet article examine la direction de sa politique étrangère sous l’administration Arroyo. Cette politique étrangère se cible notamment sur la production de ressources extérieures qui pourrait résoudre le défi sécuritaire de première importance: les insurrections internes. Afin de poursuivre ce programme, les Philippines enrôlèrent l’appui de la Chine et des Etats-unis dans un numéro d’équilibre délicat. Le gouvernement démarra son programe d’essor diplomatique en donnant des directives à ses ambassades et à ses consulats à travers le monde, afin de promouvoir le commerce extérieur et de protéger les droits et intérêts de 8.5 millions de travailleurs philippins établis outre-mer (OFWs). Le gouvernement fit appel à des organismes multilateraux afin d’avancer ses objectifs d’essor national. Cependant, la faiblesse inhérente du pays restreignit ses capacités à exploiter au maximum les occasions créées par son environnement fluide externe. Pour conclure, l’article conteste qu’à moins de consolider sa base politique et d’accroître sa concurrence économique, les Philippines resteront une puissance constamment affaiblie au sein des puissances de l’Asie de l’Est.

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