Territorial Disputes, Realpolitik, and Alliance Transformation: The Case of Twenty-first Century Philippine-U.S. Security Relations

How do territorial disputes transform alliances? How are alliances transformed? This article examines how the Philippines' territorial dispute with China over the Spratlys compels it to strengthen its security ties with the United States. Specifically, it observes that China's realpolitik approach to the quarrel shifts the focus of the Philippine-U.S. security relationship from counterterrorism/counterinsurgency to developing the AFP's maritime/territorial defense capabilities. It also analyzes how this contentious issue impacts on the alliance in terms of: (1) reformulation of its threat perception, (2) the hegemon's prerogative, (3) the process of institutionalization, (4) the strategy of institutionalization, and (5) the intra-alliance bargaining process. In conclusion, the article notes that the reconfiguring of the Philippine-US. alliance, which has been revitalized in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, aims to address the major security challenge of the twenty-first century-China's emergence and increasing assertiveness as a regional power.