Toward self-reliance in security

TWO senior United States Republican senators have asked US President Joe Biden to provide a complete list of options developed by the Pentagon and the State Department to help support the Philippines in recent standoffs with China over Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. It is a fair question to ask, though arguably not one that can or should be answered publicly, given the strategic value of not telegraphing your punch, especially in matters of national defense.

"We must respond with visible and concrete demonstrations of our support. Anything short of this risks our appearing unwilling to honor our bilateral commitments," read a July 12, 2024, letter to Biden from Sens. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Jim Risch of Idaho, the highest-ranking Republicans on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, respectively.