Developing a Credible Defense Posture for the Philippines: From the Aquino to the Duterte Administrations

What is it about?

Since 2011, the Aquino Administration had bolstered the development of a credible external defense posture of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) in the face of China’s territorial expansion in the South China Sea. This move entailed particularly the upgrading of the Philippine Navy’s (PN) and the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) capabilities for maritime domain awareness and naval interdiction. The Aquino Administration also anchored its strategic agenda to the 60-year old Philippine-U.S. alliance by signing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The election of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the 16th president of the Philippines generated uncertainties on whether or not he will continue the build-up of the AFP’s territorial defense capabilities. Eventually, however, he continued the Aquino Administration’s build-up of the AFP’s territorial defense capabilities as a hedge just in case he will find it imperative to pursue its predecessor’s policy of challenging China expansive claim in the South China Sea. In conclusion, the article maintains that both the Aquino and the Duterte Administrations have pursued a common security policy- in the light the growing uncertainties in the region marked by China’s emergence and the perceived retreat of the U.S. as a Pacific power—building up the Philippine military’s credible defense posture.

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Why is it important?

This compares the foreign and defense policies of two Philippine presidents--President Benigno Aquino and President Rodrigo Duterte. It argues that despite their different foreign policy goals, both presidents are pursuing the same defense objectives--development of the AFP's credible defense capabilities.

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