William Choong, Fulcrum's Managing Editor and ISEAS Senior Fellow, discusses the recent Japan-Philippines reciprocal access agreement with Dr Aries Arugay, the coordinator of the institute’s Philippine Studies Programme, and Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science, at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

1:30 – An overview of ISEAS’ Philippine Studies Programme⁠

7:12 – The significance of the Japan-Philippines reciprocal access agreement (RAA)

14:10 – How the RAA will help in Manila’s contest of wills with Beijing

22:51 – Will recent China-Philippines bilateral consultation mechanisms soothe tensions?

31:25 – Will the conclusion of Conduct of Conduct negotiations on the South China Sea resolve the tensions there?

37:53 – How bigger trends such as Sino-US rivalry and a new US administration come 2025 affect Manila’s position

Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.