The Manila Times
THE Philippines could become a “bridge nation” by working with China’s concept of a Maritime Community of Shared Future, a prominent Filipino security analyst said last Friday. Speaking at a forum organized by based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, Prof. Rommel Banlaoi said the Philippines could position itself as a “bridge nation” between major powers by embracing Beijing’s concept of a Maritime Community of Shared Future (MCSF), rather than acting as a proxy in the geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States. Banlaoi, who is director of the Philippines-China Studies Center and president of the Philippine Society for International Security Studies, outlined what he described as a “maritime governance triad” to manage maritime tensions. Under this framework, the MCSF provides the overarching vision, the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM) between Manila and Beijing serves as the operational platform, and the proposed Asean-China Code of Conduct (COC) institutionalized rules at the regional level. China and Asean have accelerated negotiations on a binding COC this year, adopting a road map in January to fast-track talks. The Philippines and China also resumed BCM discussions last month in Fujian, covering cooperation in fisheries conservation, marine environmental monitoring, coast guard communication and scientific research. Banlaoi clarified that the COC is “not a peace treaty or boundary delimitation accord. It is a mechanism to ensure that all parties will exercise good manners and right conduct at sea.” He outlined four governance principles embedded in China’s maritime vision: shared security to address transnational threats, shared prosperity through joint development of resources, shared responsibility among coastal states and shared heritage — a concept he is promoting among scholars and practitioners. “We need to educate scholars and practitioners to view the South China Sea as a shared maritime heritage,” he said, noting that historically, the contested waters served as a “port of connection” among coastal states. Despite maritime tensions and overlapping claims, China has remained the Philippines’ largest trading partner since 2016, with bilateral trade reaching $42.27 billion in 2024, Banlaoi said. He proposed practical areas for cooperation, including joint marine scientific expeditions, climate and disaster resilience initiatives, blue economy projects such as sustainable aquaculture and offshore renewable energy, and expanded academic exchanges. Banlaoi rejected concerns that engagement with Beijing could weaken Philippine sovereignty, saying dialogue is itself an assertion of national independence. Engaging with China “is not appeasement. It is not surrender. It is in fact a positive exercise of sovereignty,” he said. As chairman of Asean in 2026, Manila must balance national interests with regional stability, Banlaoi said, stressing that security norms in Southeast Asia should emerge from within the region rather than be dictated by external powers. “Instead of confrontation, choose dialogue. Instead of competition, choose cooperation. And instead of rivalry, choose a community of shared future,” he said.
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