US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, right and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jnr bump elbows after a ceremony for the delivery of defence equipment held in Pasay City, the Philippines, earlier this month. Photo: EPA US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, right and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jnr bump elbows after a ceremony for the delivery of defence equipment held in Pasay City, the Philippines, earlier this month. Photo: EPA
US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, right and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jnr bump elbows after a ceremony for the delivery of defence equipment held in Pasay City, the Philippines, earlier this month. Photo: EPA
Lucio Blanco Pitlo III
Opinion

Opinion

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

Biden’s US faces uphill battle winning back Asia’s hearts and minds – just look at the Philippines

  • Washington opposes Manila buying defence equipment from US rivals as it seeks to maintain its military and technological primacy
  • But to maintain its position it should also compete to provide infrastructure, market access and investments for the region, says Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III
Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

Updated: 6:12pm, 29 Nov, 2020

Why you can trust SCMP
US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, right and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jnr bump elbows after a ceremony for the delivery of defence equipment held in Pasay City, the Philippines, earlier this month. Photo: EPA US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, right and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jnr bump elbows after a ceremony for the delivery of defence equipment held in Pasay City, the Philippines, earlier this month. Photo: EPA
US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, right and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jnr bump elbows after a ceremony for the delivery of defence equipment held in Pasay City, the Philippines, earlier this month. Photo: EPA
READ FULL ARTICLE
Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III is a research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, fellow at the University of the Philippines Korea Research Centre, lecturer at the Chinese Studies Programme at Ateneo de Manila University, and contributing editor (Reviews) for the Asian Politics & Policy Journal.