Justice Carpio argues that terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement would weaken Philippine defenses in the West Philippine Sea by removing a key deterrent against Chinese aggression and eroding military cooperation with the United States.
Justice Carpio explains why the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement undermines the deterrence that previously protected Scarborough Shoal, potentially enabling China to reclaim and fortify the feature without resistance.
Justice Carpio explains how policy shifts and rhetoric by President Duterte—including moves toward VFA abrogation and reduced joint military cooperation—have weakened deterrence and the Philippines’ defenses in the West Philippine Sea, undermining constitutional duties to protect maritime sovereign rights.