Philippine Elections Will Shape Security Landscape in the Indo-Pacific

[By Nick Danby] When more than 50 million Filipinos cast their ballots on May 9 for a new president, they'll decide far more than who will be the next occupant of the Malacaà±an Palace. At stake are the country's foreign policy and its impact on US-China strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region. Pending the result, Washington can close its “credibility gap” with Manila and bolster regional security vis-à -vis Chinese maritime belligerence. Hyperbole abounds when chewing over national security. But these electoral ramifications are nothing short of rational. Since the turn of the century, Philippine presidents have tried balancing Beijing and…