Draft of 5-year nat’l security policy ‘comprehensive - analyst

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30, 2023): Draft of 5-year nat’l security policy ‘comprehensive - analyst (By Filane Mikee Cervantes)

MANILA – The draft of the National Security Policy (NSP) for 2023-2028 recently discussed by various stakeholders in partnership with the National Security Council (NSC), provides a comprehensive approach in dealing with security issues, an analyst said.

In a webinar hosted by the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) on Tuesday, Ateneo de Manila University political science professor Alma Maria Salvador said the NSP draft shows prospects of a "greater framing" of the strategic environment that considers not just geopolitical security threats, but also non-traditional or non-military security issues.

"The May 2023 draft of the national security policy also puts forward a more comprehensive security approach whereby various aspects of security are not only limited in traditional geopolitical realms, but include non-traditional security threats of climate change, water, food, energy and health," Salvador said.

Last May 22, the ASOG hosted a forum as part of the NSC’s efforts to conduct a series of public consultations to get inputs from various stakeholders before the policy document will be submitted to the President for approval and adoption.

Salvador cited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for highlighting the main global challenges that the Philippines has to address now include global inequalities, climate change and technological advancements in addition to widening geopolitical polarities.

Salvador also pointed out that the national security framers for the current administration have emphasized the need to ensure strategic security partnerships with like-minded states.

She, meanwhile, said that it is imperative for the Philippines to recognize itself as an archipelago to claim its maritime identity amid China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea that raised tensions over competing territorial claims and maritime rights.

"It is high time that the Philippines anchors its actions and its decisions in a framed strategic environment in the context of constructing and defining its national security," she said.

She said the Philippines' identity as a maritime state is centered around its key interests, such as freedom of navigation, protection of its maritime industry and resources, regional peace and security.

"Identifying the Philippines as a maritime and archipelagic state is key in being able to look into the courses of action that the Philippines may take in this changed security environment," she said. "The Philippines needs to develop its capability to respond to security risk not only geopolitical risks but primordially non-traditional security risks."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204654