The Philippines: Threatened By China, the Country Is Moving Closer to the U.S. | WSJ Coordinates

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Philippines, South China Sea, Taiwan, United States (states)
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Philippines, Nine-dash line, South Korea, World Bank
3. 6:00 – 7:06: Malampaya, Philippines, Reed Bank, South China Sea

Notable quotes from "The Philippines: Threatened By China, the Country Is Moving Closer to the U.S. | WSJ Coordinates"

• [Reporter] Off the coast of the Philippines, clashes with China have become a common occurrence, which Philippine officials call - A David versus Goliath situation.

  about Philippines · at 0:07

• To the north is the democratic island of Taiwan, a key western trading partner that China has threatened to take by force.

  about Taiwan · at 1:02

• [Reporter] The Philippines has moved closer to the United States under its new President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

  about Ferdinand Marcos Jr. · at 2:04

• [Reporter] China has made expansive maritime claims using this nine-dash line, which is believed to be based on maps used by the Republic of China in 1947.

  about Nine-dash line · at 4:08

• [Reporter] The economy has been growing, with the World Bank forecasting 6% growth in 2023.

  about World Bank · at 5:32

• Reed Bank, a site seen as key to unlocking more energy, is at the center of a dispute with China.

  about Reed Bank · at 6:22

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — Person · 1 mention · first at 2:07
• Rodrigo Duterte — Person · 1 mention · first at 2:20
  [Reporter] The shift comes after Marcos's predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, tried to steer the country closer to Beijing.
• Victor Dindo Manhit — Person · 1 mention · first at 6:31
  [Reporter] Victor Dindo Manhit runs polling on issues like China's actions in the South China Sea.

Companies & orgs

• World Bank — Company · 1 mention · first at 5:34

Products & tech

• Stinger — Product · 1 mention · first at 1:18
  [Military Officer] Stinger loads coming!
• HIMARS — Product · 1 mention · first at 1:26
  [Reporter] Stingers, (rocket roars) Patriots, (rocket roars) and HIMARS, (rocket roars) some of America's most powerful weapons, engaged in a target practice over the South…
• Patriot — Product · 1 mention

Concepts & topics

• Nine-dash line — Concept · 2 mentions · first at 4:11
• Mutual Defense Treaty — Concept · 1 mention · first at 0:31
  We're a mutual defense treaty partner, and we will come to the aid of the Philippines if they're attacked.

Places & events

• Philippines — Place · 12 mentions · first at 0:07
• United States (states) — Place · 3 mentions · first at 0:24
  [Reporter] The rising tensions between the two countries have major implications for the United States and have opened the door for a greater U.S. military presence in the Philippines.
• South China Sea — Place · 3 mentions · first at 0:44
  And why the country is becoming increasingly important to global superpowers, big players in the Pacific, and smaller neighbors in the South China Sea.
• Taiwan — Place · 2 mentions · first at 1:02
• South Korea — Place · 1 mention · first at 3:34
  [Reporter] The Philippines is also moving closer to U.S. allies in the Pacific, like Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
• Malampaya — Place · 1 mention · first at 6:17
  [Reporter] It's also racing to explore new sources of energy, since its main gas field, Malampaya, is expected to run out within a decade.
• Reed Bank — Place · 1 mention · first at 6:22
• China — Place · 1 mention
• Japan — Place · 1 mention

Full transcript with timestamps

0:01 - [Radio Officer] Request to stay clear from our passage in accordance with the position regulations, over. - [Reporter] Off the coast of the Philippines, clashes with China have become a common occurrence, which Philippine officials call - A David versus Goliath situation. - The external security environment is becoming more complex. It is becoming more unpredictable. - [Reporter] The rising tensions between the two countries have major implications for the United States and have opened the door for a greater U.S. military presence in the Philippines.

0:31 - We're a mutual defense treaty partner, and we will come to the aid of the Philippines if they're attacked. It's as simple as that. - [Reporter] Here's what's happening in the Philippines and why the country is becoming increasingly important to global superpowers, big players in the Pacific, and smaller neighbors in the South China Sea. First, let's talk superpowers. The Philippines is part of an arc of U.S. allies and partners that Washington is leaning on for help countering China. To its west is the South China Sea, a massive global shipping lane that Beijing claims almost all of.

1:02 To the north is the democratic island of Taiwan, a key western trading partner that China has threatened to take by force. To learn more about the Philippines' growing strategic importance, we traveled there in April, during the largest-ever exercises between the U.S. and Philippine militaries. - [Military Officer] Stinger loads coming! (rocket fires) - [Reporter] Stingers, (rocket roars) Patriots, (rocket roars) and HIMARS, (rocket roars) some of America's most powerful weapons, engaged in a target practice over the South China Sea, a body of water that China has steadily moved to control.

1:36 (helicopters whirring) Up north, troops conducted air assaults from a Navy ship flying to islands just 100 miles from Taiwan, the world's leading producer of advanced semiconductors, which China has threatened to take by force. - We don't want a war with China. Nobody wants that. That said, that doesn't distract me from doing my job. That's my job. - Is the U.S. prepared to fight? - Absolutely, and that's what we're doing here. (weapon fires) (military cheers) - [Reporter] The Philippines has moved closer to the United States under its new President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

2:10 - This is the first time a president has actually attended a major live fire event. - So this year was different. - Yes, this year was significantly different. - [Reporter] The shift comes after Marcos's predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, tried to steer the country closer to Beijing. - I want to be friend to China. - [Reporter] Despite his efforts, China didn't back off of its claims near the Philippine coast, and has only ramped up its show of force. How concerned are you with the continued provocation from China? - As concerned as you could possibly be.

2:41 - [Reporter] For help defending its sovereignty, Manila struck a major base deal with Washington this year, increasing U.S. access to Philippine military bases across the country from five to nine. And officials say they are continuing a dialogue about adding even more. The developments have angered officials in Beijing, who have have said that China opposes the wanton expansion of military alliances and have accused the U.S. of trying to contain China. China's embassy in Manila didn't respond to requests for comment for this story.

3:10 Both China and the U.S. are major trading partners to the Philippines. But this year, Manila and Washington have taken steps to boost economic cooperation, with the U.S. pledging to invest in everything from 5G networks to critical mineral production throughout the country. - These countries have to maintain their sovereignty. It's important to them; it's important to us. We want to help them do it. - [Reporter] The Philippines is also moving closer to U.S. allies in the Pacific, like Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

3:37 (cameras clicking) Some of those countries have also trained alongside Filipino troops, and with Marcos in charge, their leaders have made moves to improve ties with Manila. - This elevation is an important symbol of the strength of our relationship and our shared commitment to do more together. - [Reporter] These Pacific powers, also alarmed by China's growing militarization of the region, recognize that the Philippines is on the front lines in the effort to push back on Beijing. - China's distorting the story to fit its own ends.

4:08 - [Reporter] China has made expansive maritime claims using this nine-dash line, which is believed to be based on maps used by the Republic of China in 1947. Within those lines, Beijing has seized control of reefs and islands and turned them into military outposts. To maintain control, Chinese ships routinely harass Philippine vessels with water cannons, signs, and military-grade lasers. (protestors chanting) - [Reporter] China's actions have angered much of the population, and under Marcos, the Philippines has been pushing back.

4:40 The Coast Guard has adopted a new strategy of publicizing encounters with Chinese ships and calling out Beijing for not abiding by an international ruling that invalidated China's nine-dash line claims. - It just goes to show that the Chinese have always been ignoring the international law. - [Reporter] Beijing has ignored the international ruling and has said that its maneuvers are legal and justified. Now, Pacific powers like Australia and Japan are planning to conduct joint patrols with the Philippines to up the pressure on Beijing and keep the waters that are vital to their economies and national security open and free.

5:15 - To have friends like you and partners like you, and that is very gratifying, and encourages us to continue down that path. - [Reporter] But the Philippines itself is still facing major challenges when it comes to protecting its borders and helping its people. Hello yes. - Okay. - [Reporter] The economy has been growing, with the World Bank forecasting 6% growth in 2023. And while the country has been blessed with a wealth of natural resources and a young and growing population, millions of people leave to work abroad.

5:46 More than 15% of the population lives in poverty and rising prices have hit hard. Inflation for rice, the country's number one food staple, surged to 8.7% this summer, prompting the government to impose price caps. And fish stocks, another food staple, have been declining. The country is also plagued by its small number of military assets, its frail power grids, and its congested roads. It would be faster if you walked, no? - Faster this way, ma'am. - [Reporter] It's also racing to explore new sources of energy, since its main gas field, Malampaya, is expected to run out within a decade.

6:22 Reed Bank, a site seen as key to unlocking more energy, is at the center of a dispute with China. - For the Filipino people, it's very simple. That is ours. - [Reporter] Victor Dindo Manhit runs polling on issues like China's actions in the South China Sea. He says a lot of these challenges help illustrate why the Filipino people support the country moving closer to the United States and its allies. - There are a lot of challenges, and people will say, and I agree with them, "We lost time," but for me it's not too late.

6:50 We are now moving towards to work with other countries, and that's what we all need here. But these countries are ready to work with the Philippines. (traffic rumbling softly) (horn honks)

Questions about this episode

What is discussed in "The Philippines: Threatened By China, the Country Is Moving Closer to the U.S. | WSJ Coordinates"?

In order: 0:00 Philippines, South China Sea, Taiwan, United States (states); 3:00 Philippines, Nine-dash line, South Korea, World Bank; 6:00 Malampaya, Philippines, Reed Bank, South China Sea.

What is mentioned in this The Wall Street Journal episode?

18 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Philippines, United States (states), South China Sea, Taiwan, Nine-dash line, Mutual Defense Treaty. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "The Philippines: Threatened By China, the Country Is Moving Closer to the U.S. | WSJ Coordinates"?

The episode runs 7 min; the transcript is about 1,246 words in 14 timestamped sections.

More from The Wall Street Journal

• All analyzed episodes
• People mentioned on The Wall Street Journal
• Topics mentioned on The Wall Street Journal