The U.S.-Philippines relationship runs deep, with the two countries working together on a host of issues ranging from security challenges in the South China Sea to economic growth and peacebuilding in the Mindanao region. However, climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges facing the Philippines — and the risk for climate-related disasters is only going to intensify in the years ahead. USIP spoke with Philippines experts to discuss the U.S.-Philippines relationship and where it can go from here.

Michael Schiffer, assistant administrator for Asia at the U.S. Agency for International Development, explains that the agency has prepared to deliver rapid humanitarian aid in the event of climate-related disasters in the Philippines — but that USAID is also working to strengthen disaster resilience and mitigation in the Philippines to empower the government, civil society and local communities in their fight against climate change.

Hank Hendrickson, executive director of the U.S.-Philippines Society, says that the United States can demonstrate its commitment to the bilateral relationship by providing ample support for Filipinos' domestic needs — such as employment, clean energy and conflict resolution in Mindanao — rather than exclusively focusing on geopolitical issues.

Related Publications

For the Philippines, Maritime Security Goes Beyond U.S.-China Rivalry

For the Philippines, Maritime Security Goes Beyond U.S.-China Rivalry

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

By: Charmaine Misalucha-Willoughby

Maritime security is a critical issue for Southeast Asia and the geopolitical underpinnings of this topic cannot be underestimated. This is especially the case for small powers as they navigate a maritime domain that is caught in the middle of — and driven by — great power politics. While maritime security in Southeast Asia is often the stage on which the U.S.-China competition plays out, this extends beyond the competing claims of regional states in the South China Sea, with important environmental and resource issues also at stake. Within this context, the Philippines is in a unique position for three reasons.

Type: Analysis and Commentary

EnvironmentGlobal Policy

South China Sea: Crisis Communication Is Crucial to De-escalate Geopolitical Tensions

South China Sea: Crisis Communication Is Crucial to De-escalate Geopolitical Tensions

Thursday, September 7, 2023

By: Brian Harding;  Alex Stephenson

During the August 5 crisis at Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs tried to contact its Chinese counterparts through a bilateral hotline. Manila’s effort to de-escalate the standoff despite being the victim of Chinese aggression was laudable. Unfortunately, the calls went unanswered. Officials in Washington have shared the same experience on many occasions — when communication is needed most, Beijing can’t be reached.

Type: Analysis and Commentary

Global Policy

Dean Cheng on China-Philippines Confrontations in the South China Sea

Dean Cheng on China-Philippines Confrontations in the South China Sea

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

By: Dean Cheng

Tensions between China and the Philippines over control of Second Thomas Shoal have become the focal point of China’s increasingly aggressive efforts to assert dominance over the South China Sea, says USIP’s Dean Cheng: “Essentially what [China] is saying is that huge swath of ocean … is somehow Chinese waters.”

Type: Podcast

How Should the U.S. Respond to China’s Brazen Pursuit of Spratly Islands Claim?

How Should the U.S. Respond to China’s Brazen Pursuit of Spratly Islands Claim?

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

By: Dean Cheng

In recent weeks, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has dispatched ships and other maritime forces to the disputed Spratly islands near the Philippines. The goal has been to coerce the Philippines into withdrawing from the contested Second Thomas Shoal, effectively ceding it to the PRC. China’s actions are in defiance of the international Permanent Court of Arbitration’s findings that undermine PRC claims to the Spratlys. They therefore constitute a serious challenge to the international rules governing maritime conduct, as well as to broader peace and stability in the South China Sea, through which enormous amounts of global trade flow.

Type: Analysis and Commentary

Global Policy

View All Publications