The President’s Inbox The China-Philippines Standoff, With Derek Grossman
Jun 3, 2025
Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at RAND and an expert in Indo-Pacific security, dives into the fraught standoff between China and the Philippines over territorial claims in the South China Sea. He discusses the historical significance of the Sierra Madre ship and the broader geopolitical implications for U.S. foreign policy. Grossman elaborates on China's aggressive territorial claims and maritime assertiveness, the environmental impact of overfishing, and the evolving defense dynamics involving U.S. support and regional partnerships with Japan and Australia.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Sierra Madre Marks Philippine EEZ Claim
- The Sierra Madre ship, grounded by the Philippines in 1999, serves to assert Philippine EEZ claims in the South China Sea.
- This act angers China due to overlapping maritime claims under its historical "nine dash line".
China's Historic Claims Drive Dispute
- China was an original participant in UNCLOS but rejects tribunal rulings against its claims due to increased military power.
- China asserts historic rights from ancient dynasties to justify sovereignty over disputed waters.
Economic, Strategic Stakes Explained
- China's claims in the South China Sea are motivated by strategic, economic, and growing food demands.
- Fishing and potential resource extraction like deep-sea mining are key objectives behind China's actions.