Localization of the United States-China Rivalry: Cases from the Philippines

Since foreign and security policymaking tend to be formulated in a top-down manner, existing analyses have not paid sufficient attention to what extent this big-power competition has affected local political dynamics and local governance. 

The Philippine foreign policy pendulum has swung since 2016 between adopting a more cordial relationship with either the US or China. This opened opportunities for each big power to engage local governments in political, security, economic, and socio-cultural activities that potentially hold implications for national security. 

This study compares the engagement of the US and China with the local governments of Cagayan province in northern Luzon and Palawan province in southwestern Luzon. Both are geo-strategically important to the big powers for having coastal access to critical territorial and maritime zones (South China Sea and Taiwan). 

While China has fostered good economic and political relations with these two provinces, the presence of military sites and facilities identified by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the US and the Philippines have made it difficult for the local governments to veer away from the foreign and security policies adopted by the Marcos Jr. administration.

This book is on the press and will be available for purchase from 5 May 2025.