Chinese aggression drives formation of horizontal alliances in the Pacific: South Korea and the Philippines have enhanced cooperation

On October 7, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol visited Manila for talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on upgrading diplomatic relations to a strategic partnership. This is the first visit of a South Korean leader to the Philippines since 2011.

As a result, South Korea pledged to allocate $1.9 billion to develop the Philippines’ strategic infrastructure, support the revitalization of the country’s only nuclear power plant, Bataan, and significantly expand cooperation in the security and defense sector. In addition, Seoul and Manila agreed to strengthen economic cooperation aimed at ensuring technological supply chains independent of China.

President Yoon’s visit to the Philippines, which reflects the convergence of American security systems in East and Southeast Asia, was reinforced by the simultaneous start of US-led naval exercises in the South China Sea.