Philippines: US Ohio-Class Nuclear Sub and UK Troop Proposal Counter China's False Arbitral Claims

Ever since losing a UN arbitration case over Scarborough Shoal to the Philippines in 2016, China has used a mix of ‘lawfare’, propaganda, and grey-zone military tactics to invalidate that ruling. As a signatory of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), it is legally bound by this arbitration. In response to Beijing’s actions, the Philippines has expanded its naval cooperation with fellow ASEAN member Vietnam as well as with the US, UK, and Australia. By contrast, Vietnam shares a land border and a long history with China, so it has been more cautious and flexible in its dealings to Beijing. Even so, are China’s repeated violations of international maritime law driving these countries together? In this episode, we discuss the UN arbitration process, Manila’s and Hanoi’s foreign policies, and the latest geopolitical developments in the South China Sea.

*Recorded on October 3, 2025 at 10:45am Taiwan Standard Time

Host: Yin Khvat

Our guests:

Chyungly Lee
National Chengchi University Institute of International Relations Professor and Research Fellow

Renato Cruz de Castro
National Chengchi University MOFA Taiwan Fellow

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Beijing’s Aggression Unites SCS Rivals
00:01:15 - Beijing Seeks To Invalidate UNCLOS Ruling
00:06:20 - Allied Navies Support Philippines
00:13:34 - Hanoi, Manila Increase Navy Cooperation
00:16:56 - Vietnam’s History with China




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