Challenging China’s Maritime Expansion in the South China Sea from the Aquino to the Duterte Administrations

Why do small and middle powers balance an emergent power despite the latter’s preponderant military capabilities? How do weaker powers sustain this balancing policy? This article examines the Philippine case beginning with President Aquino’s policy of challenging China’s expansive maritime claim in the South China Sea (SCS), which was unravelled by President Rodrigo Duterte who initially adopted a policy of appeasement. However, with time, President Duterte also found it necessary to re-adopt his predecessor’s SCS approach.