The UP Asian Center in partnership with FACTS Asia and the UP Department of Political Science will be hosting the roundtable, “The Philippines Amidst Major Power Rivalry in Southeast Asia” on 01 October 2024, 2:00 PM (GMT+8), at the Seminar Room, GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman. The event is by invitation only.

ABOUT THE ROUNDTABLE

Southeast Asia’s strategic importance is growing. With billions of trade and vital sea lanes, Southeast Asia’s strategic importance is growing. With billions of trade and vital sea lanes, the region is crucial for global trade and security. Home to almost 700 million people, Southeast Asia collectively amounts to becoming the fifth-largest economy in the world. It has grown between 4-5 percent, close to the growth of India (between 6-7 percent) and at times exceeding that of China (between3-5 percent).

The region has gained much attention from rival major powers—the United States and China. Tensions in the South China Sea have intensified further this year, as China continues to assert and flex its maritime prowess while the US conducts exercises and provides support to smaller nations like the Philippines. Most recent of the tensions are multiple incidents of harassment from Chinese ships ramming Philippine vessels. BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), the Philippine CoastGuard’s flagship and largest patrol ship, has been forced to leave the area to address the medical needs of some of her crew and undergo needed repairs.

Following these developments, nearly every notable major power is intensifying its engagement in Southeast Asia in recognition of the region’s growing clout. The establishment of the Quad and AUKUS, and the emergence of other US-led minilateral arrangements are testaments to this. Additionally, European powers France and Germany have been deploying ships and aircraft in the Indo-Pacific to challenge China’s illiberal actions at sea. The US, Italian, and Australian Air Force also carried out four days of drills in the South China Sea. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu has also recently promised that her country would be increasing its maritime cooperative activities with Manila.

Although the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the premier platform for Southeast Asia to cooperate on security, economic, and cultural facets, its principle of non-intervention limits a viable consensus on the South China Sea issue. Non-claimants, generally mainland ASEAN nations, recognize and put more importance on their bilateral relationship with China - a stark contrast to thereality facing maritime ASEAN nations. This unique dynamic hinders ASEAN from putting up a unified policy towards China. At best, ASEAN members have only converged on lobbying for the rule of law, seeking non-violent ways to cooperate and resolve the issue. But even this pursuit has left ASEAN at a precarious position on account of the long overdue Code of Conduct, the negotiations for which has been shirked and stalled by China.

The Philippines is one of the most active states in Southeast Asia for two important reasons: 1) it is at the center of the US-China geopolitical rivalry and 2) it is in constant need of reliable partners to diversify its defense and security relations. The country has a prominent strategic role and position among other Southeast Asian countries. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

DR. ABDUL RAHMAN YAACOB

Dr. Abdul Rahman Yaacob is a Research Fellow at the Southeast Asia Program of the Lowy Institute, Australia. His research interests include Southeast Asia’s defense and security issues and the region’s relations with major powers. Before joining the Lowy Institute, Rahman completed his Ph.D. at the National Security College, Australian National University. His dissertation examined Singapore’s defense policy and analyzed the broader strategic and security issues relating to ASEAN during the Cold War. Rahman also led a project funded by a grant from the Australian Army Research Centre that focused on understanding Southeast Asian security concerns and explored the potential areas for closer defense cooperation between Australia and its northern neighbors. He was served as an Academic Staff member and lectured in the ASEAN-Australia Defence Postgraduate Scholarship Program at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, ANU. From 2020 to 2023, he was a Teaching Fellow at the Australian Command and Staff Course, Australian War College.

Before commencing his Ph.D. program, Rahman served nearly 18 years with the Government of Singapore. He held various command and staff postings in security-related areas and received several awards, including Ministerial Awards for Operational Excellence and a Commendation for the Rejection of Bribe.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS

The event is organized by the UP Asian Center in partnership with FACTS Asia and the UP Department of Political Science. FACTS Asia is a non-stock, non-profit organization registered in the Securities and Exchange Commission Philippines. They aim is to provide and host expert analysis on foreign and public policies to be utilized by various stakeholders and policy-makers.

 For inquiries, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 891-8500 loc. 3586.

The Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The UP Asian Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. It also offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. As an area studies institution, the Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website.