Shaping Filipino Foreign Policy | Filipina policy analysis

Shaping Filipino Foreign Policy in a Global Crisis: Can We Afford Flawed Policies?

In the throes of a devastating public health crisis, the Philippines stands at a crossroads. As COVID-19 exposes deep vulnerabilities in global health systems, international cooperation is not just desirable—it is imperative. Yet, the nation’s foreign policy trajectory, marked by inconsistent pronouncements and strategic missteps, raises urgent questions: “Just when international cooperation proves critical to resolving the public health crisis, can the Philippines afford making more flawed foreign policies and pronouncements?”

This question echoed during a recent webinar hosted by iDEFEND, a coalition for human rights, with panelists dissecting the implications of the country’s foreign policy decisions. Moderated by Mr. Joseph Purugganan of Focus on the Global South, the discussion featured leading experts: Atty. Cora Fabros (Vice President, International Peace Bureau), Dr. Eduardo Tadem (Convenor, UP CIDS AltDev), Atty. Virginia Lacsa-Suarez (Secretary General, Kilusan), and Prof. Walden Bello (Chairperson, Laban ng Masa).

The Stakes of International Collaboration

Dr. Tadem opened the dialogue by emphasizing that the pandemic’s scale demands multilateral solidarity. “Vaccine access, global health surveillance, and equitable resource distribution require alliances,” he stated. “Yet, our government’s alignment with powers prioritizing bilateral deals over multilateral frameworks limits our leverage.” He criticized the Philippines’ pivot toward states with poor pandemic records, arguing it undermines trust in international institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO).

Prof. Bello echoed these concerns, highlighting how the Philippines’ foreign policy has veered into opportunism. “Championing China’s Belt and Road Initiative while courting the U.S. creates contradictory loyalties,” he argued. “This inconsistency signals unreliability, eroding our capacity to attract meaningful partnerships in health, climate action, or recovery.”

Domestic Repercussions of Flawed Diplomacy

Atty. Lacsa-Suarez warned that external contradictions translate into domestic hardships. “When foreign policy prioritizes elite interests over people’s needs, it deepens inequalities,” she said. She cited the government’s failure to secure affordable vaccines through COVAX while entering opaque deals with China. “Taxpayers bear the cost of diplomatic blunders, yet health workers and the poor suffer the most.”

Atty. Fabros stressed the human cost of fractured international relations. “Geopolitical gamesmanship in the West Philippine Sea diverts attention from essential health infrastructure,” she asserted. “Instead of asserting sovereignty through provocative actions, we should unite with ASEAN neighbors to fund regional health responses.” She underscored that militarized rhetoric isolates the Philippines, weakening its position in diplomatic forums.

A Call for Reimagining Foreign Policy

The panelists agreed that a paradigm shift is overdue. Dr. Tadem proposed an “alternative development agenda” centered on South-South cooperation and progressive multilateralism. “Prioritize WHO-guided strategies over unilateral deals. Demand patents waivers for vaccines and medicines. Make public health a pillar of foreign policy, not an afterthought.”

Prof. Bello called for an end to “great power dependency.” “Our foreign policy should reflect the interests of the majority—workers, farmers, and the urban poor,” he insisted. “Align with blocs pushing for equitable global health rules, not those weaponizing aid for political influence.”

Atty. Lacsa-Suarez urged civil society’s role in accountability. “We must pressure government to adopt policies rooted in human rights, not corporate or foreign interests. Foreign policy is too important to be dictated by rent-seekers.”

Atty. Fabros concluded with a vision of peace-centered diplomacy. “True sovereignty is best achieved through solidarity, not isolation. In a pandemic, our security is tied to others’ well-being.”

The Path Forward

As the pandemic rages, the Philippines cannot afford diplomatic complacency. Flawed policies—whether from alienating allies, ignoring multism, or prioritizing geopolitical gamesmanship—exacerbate the crisis. The experts’ message is clear: recovery hinges on foreign policy rooted in unity, justice, and shared human dignity.

Watch the full discussion on iDEFEND’s Facebook page and follow @iDEFENDhr for updates.