Under Yoon’s administration, the Philippines has significantly benefited from a change in South Korea’s approach to the South China Sea dispute, with Seoul no longer maintaining the relative silence of previous administrations.
The seemingly distant event in South Korea in which President Yoon Suk-yeol is threatened with impeachment after his brazen move to declare martial law which he revoked shortly after in a monumental backpedal will have ramifications for the regional alliance.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration has adjusted its foreign policy to safeguard Philippine sovereignty and national interest in response to the escalating tensions with China in the South China Sea.
This circumstance has compelled the Philippines to prioritize the modernization of its navy as an urgent need. One of the initiatives under Mr. Marcos involves strengthening defense cooperation with “like-minded nations,” driven by a clear understanding of the limitations of unilateral action in confronting China’s dominant military capabilities.
Fortunately, nearby South Korea, one of the world’s top arms exporters and a fellow US ally, responded and is now regarded as a top security partner of the Philippines.
Korea’s involvement with the Philippine Navy has been going on for a long time.
Since the Scarborough Shoal incident in 2012, Congress passed the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act, allocating approximately P75 billion for the first five years of implementation to enhance the AFP’s capabilities.
Through a public bidding that started in October 2013, South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) won a contract with the Philippines for the two Philippine Navy frigates in 2016.
The Philippine Navy’s first guided-missile frigate, the BRP Jose Rizal, was handed over by HHI in May 2020, and a second ship, the BRP Antonio Luna, was commissioned in March 2021.
According to the international geopolitical publication The Diplomat, the Philippines continued to sign contracts with HHI for two corvettes in 2021 and six offshore patrol boats in 2022.
By 2028, the Philippine Navy is expected to acquire at least 12 vessels, including offshore patrol boats, corvettes and frigates from South Korea.
The Marcos administration has approved an expenditure of up to $35 billion (equivalent to P2 trillion) for the Philippines’ armed forces modernization plan over the next decade.
According to the military procurement plan, the AFP intends to acquire more military assets such as warships, submarines, and combat aircraft. Given its robust defense industry capabilities, South Korea will be the most comprehensive partner in supporting the Philippines’ naval modernization.
In his recent visit to the Philippines, Yoon and Marcos agreed to elevate the two nations’ relationship to a strategic partnership and strengthen defense and maritime cooperation amid growing regional security complexities.
Beyond security and defense aspects, the cooperation also brings economic benefits to the Philippines, playing a pivotal role in enabling the country to maintain a budget for investing in the modernization of its military capabilities.
More importantly, South Korea is also part of the trilateral cooperation agreement with the United States and Japan.
This facilitates the potential integration of South Korea into existing multilateral partnership networks, such as the Japan-Philippines-US and the Australia-Japan-Philippines-US groupings, or even establishing an entirely new mechanism.
During a meeting on the sidelines of the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting in Laos on 21 November, defense ministers from South Korea, the United States, Japan, the Philippines and Australia met for the first time and expressed a shared commitment to “advancing a vision for a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region where international law and sovereignty are respected.”
In the aftermath of Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration, the collaboration between the Philippines and South Korea might be hampered. A change in administration in South Korea may affect the budding alliance.
Under Yoon’s administration, the Philippines has significantly benefited from a change in South Korea’s approach to the South China Sea dispute, with Seoul no longer maintaining the relative silence of previous administrations.
If Yoon is impeached, there is a high possibility of a transition of power in South Korea in the coming months, according to The Diplomat.
The bigger problem for the Philippines is the potential replacement of Yoon may opt for closer relations with China.
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