Backlash rising to Marcos Jr’s pro-US policy pivot

MANILA – Following last month’s near-fatal showdown over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippines and China have resumed diplomatic contacts in a bid to defuse dangerously rising tensions in the South China Sea.

On July 2, at the latest round of the so-called Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM), Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong had “frank and constructive” discussions, according to a statement issued after the meeting by the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs.

During their first BCM in six months, a perilous period that has seen multiple near-collisions in the disputed waters and ramped up bellicose rhetoric, both sides “affirmed their commitment to deescalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions” and “recognized that there is a need to restore trust.” Nevertheless, the statement said, “[despite] substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea…significant differences remain.”

Amid the deadlock and escalation, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr faces growing pressure on multiple fronts in response to his hard pivot back to the United States and other traditional allies in response to China’s rising maritime assertiveness in the South China Sea. Manila is increasingly seen as joining America’s bloc of like-minded democracies against a rival bloc led by China and Russia.

During his most recent televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned smaller states against turning into America’s “satellite states” or face the risk of countermeasures by Moscow.

“Today, it is known that the United States not only produces these missile systems but has already brought them to