Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Deutsche Welle

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17823498208711782349816174.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"></span></span></span></div><p>President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed Vietnamese President and Communist Party General Secretary, His Excellency To Lam at Malacañan Palace with arrival honors, underscoring the growing partnership between the Philippines and Viet Nam as the two countries commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership. 📷༘ PCO/Facebook</p><div><br/></div><div></div><p>For years, the South China Sea has been seen as a potential flashpoint in the intensifying geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States.  </p><p>Southeast Asian states are often presented as the smaller powers caught in the storm.</p><p>That picture is changing, however, as a new and subtle security network takes shape across the region.</p><p>It&#x27;s built not around formal alliances but around access deals, missile sales, coast guard drills, intelligence-sharing talks and defense consultations.</p><p>On June 1, the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/marcos-vietnamese-president-to-lam-deepen-bilateral-ties-in-malca-ang-0923">Philippines and Vietnam upgraded ties</a> to an enhanced strategic partnership and signed a memorandum on defense cooperation which commits them to high-level exchanges, strategic dialogue, information sharing and joint activities at sea.</p><p>The partnership builds on earlier coast guard arrangements, including a hotline and mechanisms to prevent incidents.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A raft of defense deals</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Late last month, Indian officials said that New Delhi had signed a $629 million (€555 million) deal to supply Vietnam with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system.</p><p>Vietnam is the second Southeast Asian buyer publicly confirmed by India, after the Philippines, which signed a $375 million contract in 2022 for three BrahMos batteries. The missiles are jointly developed by India and Russia.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/7/ph-to-procure-more-brahmos-missiles-from-india-marcos-0935">PH to procure more BrahMos missiles from India: Marcos </a></div><p>Meanwhile, Japan&#x27;s security relationship with the Philippines has grown quite concrete.  A<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/12/-stronger-defense-ties-between-ph-japan-eyed-as-raa-takes-effect-september-dnd-1911"> Reciprocal Access Agreement</a> entered into force last September, expanding troop deployment in each country, while this month they began talks over a new deal to share classified defense information. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/6/philippines-japan-sign-defense-equipment-deal-eye-expanded-security-cooperation-0003">Philippines, Japan sign defense equipment deal, eye expanded security cooperation</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/6/philippines-japan-sign-defense-equipment-deal-eye-expanded-security-cooperation-0003https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/4/ph-us-japan-forces-simulate-coastal-defense-repel-mock-invasion-in-laoag-drills-1650"> Balikatan 2026: PH, US, Japan forces simulate coastal defense, repel mock invasion in Laoag drills </a></div><p>In February, Australia and Indonesia signed the &quot;Jakarta Treaty,&quot; a common security pact that commits the two governments to regular top-level consultations.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A not-quite united front against China</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>None of these agreements creates a NATO-style alliance. Together, however, they show how middle powers are trying to make unilateral pressure at sea harder and costlier.</p><p>All these countries share concerns about China and an interest in upholding the rule of law at sea and keeping the region free from coercion by great powers, Hunter Marston, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, told DW.</p><p>At the same time, they recognize — to varying degrees — the possibility that the US could scale back its commitments to regional security, which would introduce volatility and unpredictability into the prevailing balance of power, he said.</p><p>&quot;While they don&#x27;t all see eye to eye on regional security or support the United States military presence equally, now is the time for middle powers to band together to stand up for their interests. None are strong enough to do so alone,&quot; Marston added.</p><p>&quot;Even Indonesia and India, major powers in their own right, are looking to one another to shore up their security.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/21/ex-navy-officer-urges-tougher-stance-on-chinese-activities-in-west-philippine-sea-0012">Ex-Navy officer urges tougher stance on Chinese activities in West Philippine Sea </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/9/philippines-protests-over-chinese-structure-built-near-bajo-de-masinloc-2037">Philippines protests over Chinese structure built near Bajo de Masinloc </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/12/defense-chief-teodoro-says-to-keep-doing-my-duty-after-china-sanctions-0813">Defense chief Teodoro says to &#x27;keep doing my duty&#x27; after China sanctions </a> </div><div><em><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.dw.com/en/us-war-in-iran-china-casts-itself-as-savior-of-se-asia/a-76543061__;!!M1IUUW00!JgUaMNA6R-aMnbHevu_Ih9KWLeopXBBMPH1MpurYP-bpDO8mkRbe_sTaM8CuFrPog7Agi-RGaTwSIRFg40Ozecu3$"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774855555426dw-dark-blue-4c_page-0001.jpg" style="width:69px !important;height:50px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"/></a></em></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5qhqt1PIJXg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y2DLZD-C3h4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Countries across the region are expanding defense cooperation in ways that change the South China Sea equation but fall short of a new anti-China bloc.</p>

Countries across the region are expanding defense cooperation in ways that change the South China Sea equation but fall short of a new anti-China bloc.

Southeast Asia boost defense ties but avoids firm alliances

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

World

Southeast Asia boost defense ties but avoids firm alliances

Deutsche Welle

Published June 25, 2026 09:08 AM PHT

|

Updated June 25, 2026 09:10 AM PHT

Read More:

China

Philippines

South China Sea

West Philippine Sea

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.