Elections are rarely decided by foreign policy issues, but election results can decide foreign policy issues.
The 2016 Philippines presidential election looks like it could lead to a sharp change in Manila’s approach to its maritime boundary disputes with China in the West Philippine Sea. The US, Indonesia and Vietnam are taking firmer and more active positions on the South China Sea disputes involving China in the face of Beijing’s aggressive reclamation activities targeting Philippine claims. President Aquino has won international support for the Philippines’ firm stance.
But his most likely successor could significantly soften Philippine policy towards China on this issue.Vice-President Jejomar Binay, despite being the focus of a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating alleged corruption, is the clear front-runner for the 2016 elections. In the latest Pulse Asia poll on 2016 presidential candidates, Binay garnered 29% support, a clear 15% ahead of Senator Grace Poe in second at 14% and a full 25% ahead of Manuel ‘Mar’ Roxas (Aquino’s presumed favoured candidate), at 4%.
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