Despite adhering to a one-China policy, the Philippines is actively pursuing closer collaboration with Taiwan to safeguard critical undersea communication cables and combat "gray-zone" threats. Felipe F. Carino III, Manila’s deputy chief of mission in Washington, recently emphasized that this pragmatic partnership is essential for securing the Bashi Channel, a vital corridor for global data flows. He noted that given the region's high vulnerability to cyber incidents, the two sides are prioritizing knowledge-sharing and capacity building to ensure these infrastructure lifelines remain protected.

The initiative comes as both nations navigate increasing pressure from Chinese maritime activities, which often fall just below the threshold of open conflict. While Beijing has cautioned the Philippines to strictly follow its one-China stance, Manila appears committed to evolving this cooperation to address regional security gaps. Moving forward, the partnership could potentially expand into more robust measures, such as enhanced surveillance and coordinated accountability for maritime vessels that disrupt communications. Meanwhile, Taiwan is simultaneously investing in unmanned systems and calling for international intervention at the United Nations to curb interference with essential subsea infrastructure.