Recorded Forum | Looking South, Looking West: Manila Views Security Threats to the Philippines

June 30, 2021, Wednesday

9:00 am – 10:00 am (EDT) Washington DC

The Philippines faces security challenges from within – maintaining peace in Muslim Mindanao and managing armed insurgency by the Communist Party of the Philippines – as well as in the contested waters of the South China Sea where Chinese aggression threatens Philippine territorial claims. Although the military alliance with the U.S. is viewed as key to sustaining Philippine defense capabilities by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Duterte administration has sent mixed signals about the U.S. alliance.

Experts – Ann Bajo and Greg Poling – discussed Philippines’ security problems from Manila’s perspective. Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia Forum Chair William Wise was moderator; US-PH Society Executive Director Hank Hendrickson provided closing remarks. The event was co-hosted by US-Philippines Society and Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia Forum.

Ann Fedel Q. Bajo Senior Defense Analyst Office for Strategic Studies and Strategy Management Armed Forces of the Philippines

Gregory B. Poling Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia Director, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative Center for Strategic and International Studies