NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY [JEEE Rise and Batanes islands in the North, and the ZambaSulTa and Bongao islands in the Southern Philippines. The dispute over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) remains to be the foremost security challenge to the Philippines’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. In July 2016, the Philippines won a key victory when the Arbitral Tribunal ruled that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the WPS (in the South China Sea) and that China’s “nine-dash- line” claim is invalid. The Philippines will tread with prudence on this complex and delicate issue and will carefully calibrate its diplomatic moves to avert the costly consequences of any potential outbreak of armed confrontations in the disputed sea region. The Government is looking to begin the process of diplomatic negotiations with neighboring countries to delimit and define maritime borders and jurisdictions. In this connection, the enactment of laws pertaining to national defense, maritime zones, archipelagic sea lanes and all other matters necessary for compliance with the country’s commitments and obligations under international law is urgent and imperative. GLOBAL AND REGIONAL GEOPOLITICAL ISSUES In addition to the WPS issue, there are other inter- and intra-states flashpoints immediate concern to the Philippines. of These include the intensifying conflicts in the Middle East and Africa (MENA region), persisting tension in the Korean Peninsula, unresolved territorial disputes in Northeast and Southeast-Asia, unsettled Sabah issue, China-Taiwan conflict, and other power rivalries where the hegemony of the United States is contested and threatened. 1. United States The United States remains as the only superpower in the world today and maintains its strategic presence around the globe. In the Asia Pacific region, the US strengthens the sphere of influence through the “pivot/rebalance policy” and has sought to improve its military standing through the introduction of more sophisticated weapons systems, in the improvement of basing facilities and in the alliance and multilateral network it has set up among its regional partners. A continuing US security presence in the Asia Pacific is a stabilizing force, particularly with the growing complexity of security challenges that confront the region. The US remains as the sole defense treaty ally of the Philippines. The Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States has been strengthened under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) of 2015 granting the U.S. increased military presence in the country for humanitarian and maritime security operations. It remains to be seen how the current Trump Administration will act towards Asia. It is expected that the US 13|Page