The Philippines’ hard-balancing policy against China’s expansion in the South China Sea: the Comprehensive archipelagic Defence Concept (CADC)

Formulated by the Marcos Administration, the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Doctrine stemmed from the Philippines’ long-drawn recognition that China’s maritime expansion in the South China Sea poses a clear and present danger to Philippine national security. As a component of the Philippines’ hard-balancing policy toward China, the CADC prepares the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for a possible armed conflict in the South China Sea, and even over Taiwan. In conclusion, the article argues that in the implementation of the CADC, the Philippines must hurdle the following: a) the increased cost of acquiring the necessary weapon systems, force restructuring, and personnel training; b) the tendency of a presidential form of government to revise or discontinue previous foreign and national security policy; and c) the Philippines’ growing isolation from the other ASEAN member-states. However, the failure of the current and succeeding administrations to implement the CADC will deprive the Filipino nation of the opportunity to explore, control, manage, and exploit the natural resources of its archipelagic domain.