“The U.S. once held the Philippines as a colonial possession, but now finds itself having to win back the Southeast Asian nation’s good graces to counter a rising China.”

While other U.S. allies participated modestly in exercises in the South China Sea with a warship or two, the United Kingdom jumped in with both feet, dispatching an aircraft carrier fleet. This highlighted its special relationship with the U.S. and revealed some deeper strategic intent.

The controversial claims China has made in the South China Sea has made it difficult to be its neighbor - but Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to subvert his own administration to try and mend fences.

China and ASEAN countries have maintained contact relating to the Code of Conduct. The main messages delivered are that progress has been made, efforts have been undertaken for the step-by-step resumption of COC negotiations and an environment conducive to the negotiations will be created.

ASEAN has long been a platform for dialogue and multilateralism in Asia. But it now must refocus on leadership development and proactive cooperation in order to de-escalate tensions and promote stability in the ASEAN region.

As a former U.S. colony, the Philippines has maintained close ties with the United States on security issues for decades, and may quickly become a key player in Washington’s plans in the Indo-Pacific as China tests their claims across the South China Sea.

The EU’s Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific calls for a “meaningful European naval presence in the region.” What does it mean for vested parties in the South China Sea?

The rhetoric of the United States is designed to stoke fear and amp up tensions so that it can more easily form an alliance against China. Playing up the threat theory, however, only shows helplessness as China exercises its maritime rights.

More efforts are needed by China and the Philippines to relieve tensions over the presence of Chinese vessels. Variables such as a mutual defense treaty with the United States and the coming presidential election in the Philippines are possible inflection points.

A complete reassessment of Washington’s stance on territorial disputes in the East and South China Sea is long overdue. Implied obligations and strategic ambiguity only increases risks for all parties.