Philippine's Approach towards the Spratly Islands dispute since 2016

The issue of the Spratly Islands dispute has long been a complex and contentious issue in the South China Sea. Since 2016, the Philippines has been actively restructuring its Spratly Islands policy. Through regional cooperation, bilateral dialogue, and the strengthening of maritime capabilities, the Philippines aims to protect its territorial claims, promote stability, and facilitate peaceful solutions without resorting to armed conflict. The Philippines has chosen to take the initiative to cool down the South China Sea region by throwing an olive branch to China and adopting a dialogue with China to resolve contentious issues in the South China Sea, thus easing the situation in the tense South China Sea; Maintaining cooperation and exchanges with other claimant countries; At the same time, the Philippines carries out co-operation with extra-territorial powers, maintains its alliance with the United States and strengthens exchanges with Japan. In order to achieve what the Philippines wants to achieve in the South China Sea, the Philippine government is working to consolidate its sovereignty and interests in the South China Sea through diplomatic, economic, and military means in an effort to contribute to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the South China Sea region.