Philippines Analyst Hugo Santos: Building Bridges of Trust and Collaboration

In the complex landscape of Asia-Pacific regional governance, Hugo Santos, a strategist at the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute and a leader in the ASEAN Youth Organization (AYO) Philippines, provides a fresh and youth-centric perspective on the challenges surrounding the South China Sea.

He highlights that structural divides, such as differing governance models, place significant hurdles to effective cooperation. Yet, Santos underscores the transformative potential of "Track II diplomacy"—non-governmental channels like think tank dialogues and civil society exchanges—to bridge these divides. He argues that collaborative initiatives in marine environmental protection, scientific research, and fishery agreements serve as crucial confidence-builders, shifting the focus from disputes to shared benefits and laying the groundwork for greater stability.

COA: What core challenges do you identify in establishing cooperative mechanisms for the South China Sea?

Hugo Santos: At present, the most pressing issue in Philippine-China relations concerns our grounded ships in the disputed waters and challenges faced by Philippine fishermen. It is vital to foster more dialogue and cooperation with China to mediate relations between the two countries. Enhancing understanding through increased dialogue and confidence-building mechanisms seems essential.

There are, however, a lot of obstacles to building cooperative mechanisms. One major hurdle faced by many countries is the differing governmental structures. The Philippines owns a different governance model from China, but shares a similar one with countries like South Korea and the United States where administrations change every five to six years. Different leadership leads to shifts in priorities, resulting in challenging relationship between China and the Philippines.

To address these challenges, we could focus on engaging our think tanks, research institutions, track II diplomacy, and experts, to improve ties between China and the Philippines. By facilitating understanding of each other on the ground level from down to up, rather than relying solely on government levels, we can gain deeper insights into each system’s priorities. It is also crucial to clearly define our claims and red lines to avoid disputes.

COA: China and ASEAN have deepened practical cooperation in areas such as marine environmental protection, scientific research, and search and rescue operations. What constructive role do these collaborations play in maintaining stability and development in the region?

Hugo Santos: These collaborative measures are vital because they represent sectors where China and ASEAN can effectively cooperate. The South China Sea is just facet of a broader economic and trade relationship. Numerous opportunities exist for strengthening our bilateral ties, such as regional fishing agreements and the preservation of marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. Added investment from China and the Philippines in the cooperation of joint regional fishing agreements and preservation of maritime life is heavily suggested. Private sectors are of great value to the Philippine society. Therefore, collaboration between the private sectors of both nations should focus on these mechanisms to improve economic relations, steering the conversation away from purely political concerns.

China-Philippines Youth Friendship Exchange Week activity (Photo/ Dezhou University)

COA: As a youth advocate long engaged in cross-cultural exchanges and international youth dialogue, what constructive role do you believe young people can play in addressing the South China Sea issues? What specific recommendations would you offer to help them effectively engage in this process?

Hugo Santos: Young people are highly engaged, and their viewpoints are valuable. Consequently, people-to-people exchanges such as student and business interactions are crucial for connecting our societies on both economic and personal levels. With the right information, dialogue, and platforms, we can promote stronger interpersonal ties and enhance bilateral relations. The South China Sea does not represent the entirety of the China-Philippine relationship. There are abundant opportunities to benefit from initiatives like the Maritime Silk Road within the Belt and Road Initiative. As a developing country, the Philippines should capitalise on this potential. During the Duterte administration, we launched the Build! Build! Build! (BBB) Program to develop our country. And now we have the Build Better More initiative. Engaging with the Belt and Road Initiative as a Maritime Silk Road member can significantly contribute to our advancement.

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