By Rommel C. Banlaoi

March 17, 2016

"The Presidential campaign for the May 2016 elections just kicked off in the Philippines. While all candidates pay greater attention to domestic issues such as poverty, employment, crimes and corruption, one major foreign policy concern that should top the agenda in the upcoming race is the country's strategic relation with two competing world powers: China and the U.S.

Whoever becomes the next Philippine president has to deal with the 'rock solid' security alliance of the Philippines with U.S.. The Philippine Supreme Court's  recently declared the Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) constitutional. This not only provides a strong legal backing for the alliance with the U.S., but also binds the next president to vigorously embrace it, especially in the context of China's growing political and military presence in the South China Sea."

Read more:
http://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/china-us-relations-and-the-may-2016-philippine-elections/

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