This is reminiscent of the late President Benigno Aquino III’s policy of hard balancing that challenged China's expansive maritime claim in the South China Sea. Unfortunately, President Marcos's efforts to engage these two great powers in his diplomatic gambit of balancing one power against another do not suit China's long-term strategic goal of maritime expansion into the South China Sea. To assert its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, China must possess the means to control a maritime feature. These measures aim to balance or challenge Chinese maritime expansion in the South China Sea. President Marcos' hard balancing policy toward China is two-pronged.

Source: Philippine Star December 23, 2023 23:08 UTC