New CNAS Report Recommends Quad and Philippines Cooperation to Address South China Sea Tensions  

Washington, January 9, 2025 — Today, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a new report, The Quad Plus the Philippines: A Strategic Partnership for a Peaceful South China Sea by Lisa Curtis, Evan Wright, and Nathaniel Schochet.

The paper explores how the Quad countries—Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—can deepen collaboration with the Philippines to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

With China taking more aggressive actions against Philippine vessels near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, the authors argue that closer cooperation between the Quad countries and the Philippines—through enhanced naval coordination and informal engagement—could deter further aggression and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region.

The paper also highlights the importance of reducing regional economic reliance on China, which Beijing has used to exert pressure on its neighbors. By working together on technology and economic issues, the Quad and the Philippines could create greater resilience against economic coercion and bolster regional stability.

While the paper does not propose formal expansion of the Quad, it outlines practical ways to improve security and economic ties with the Philippines. These efforts, the authors suggest, can help prevent conflicts and maintain peace in one of the world’s most critical regions.

The paper concludes with actionable policy recommendations for implementing a Quad Plus agenda that enhances multinational deterrence and stability in the Indo-Pacific over the next several years.

For more information or to arrange an interview with the report’s authors, please contact Alexa Whaley at [email protected].