Standing Up to China, Philippine Leader Courts New Network of Partners
New York TimesMAR 2024
Blinken Reaffirms 'Ironclad' Support for the Philippines
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The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
As China grows aggressive in the South China Sea and has consistently harassed Philippine vessels, it's crucial that freedom-loving countries stand together to protect a free and open Indo-Pacific. Hopefully, bolstered security ties will help deter further aggressive actions and make Beijing understand that all nations benefit from peace in the region.
Establishment-critical narrative
This statement reasserts that Washington sees the Philippines as both a base and a proxy to create geopolitical troubles in the South China Sea and bring regional strategic confrontation to a level unmatched since the end of the Cold War. Emboldened by America's support, Manila has illegally intruded into Chinese waters and challenged Beijing's historic rights.