The Philippines: Tiptoeing to Outer Space with Emerging Space Nations
John Louis explores how middle and small powers can survive and thrive in outer space.
Humankind had always been curious about what lies beyond the stars and the skies. Various cultures, civilizations, and scientific and technological achievements reflect our longing to know and even reach outer space. This trend hasn’t changed today, in a time of state and non-state actors in the international system. It can even be argued that outer space is an integral part of the next frontier of international relations. Through power competition, conflicts, and cooperation, we had the Space Race, the creation of the International Space Station, and the inclusion of private companies from the aerospace industry.
Despite recent developments, outer space is still almost exclusively for actors that can. States like the United States, Russia, and China have their respective space agencies. Europe even has a collective organization; the European Space Agency. These are the daily headliners in global affairs, wielding influence in various places and phenomena. But how about states that are not considered amongst the great powers? One of these is a small but geopolitically viable country: the Republic of the Philippines. Its case as an emerging space nation reflects a possible trend for most states looking to build their footprint in Earth’s orbit.
Small Steps in a Novel Frontier
The Philippines is relatively new to building a formal institution dedicated to outer space. However, it made its tangible mark through satellites in the late 1990s. The Mabuhay Satellite Corporation acquired AGILA 1 in 1996 from an Indonesian entity and ordered AGILA 2 in 1997. It was DIWATA 1 that became the first Filipino-made satellite in 2016, and it was followed by others in recent years.
Fortifying its presence in outer space, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) was established through the country’s Republic Act 11363. It generally aims to harness Space Science and Technology Applications (SSTA) for the benefit of the Filipino people and to inform those people of the importance of the agency’s function for the country’s development. By nature, PhilSA is a state organ that promotes the virtues of liberalism to advance the interests of the Philippines in the international community. It includes itself in the state’s diplomatic agenda through Space Diplomacy Briefings, coordination with foreign space agencies, and by presenting itself as planning to utilize outer space through peaceful means for peaceful ends.
With this, it can be inferred that the space actions of the Philippines are conventional for a non-great power. It is in its infancy stage and relies on international cooperation. Moreover, there is no evidence yet that the Filipino public is particularly interested in outer space. Like most states, the Philippines is still heavily preoccupied with domestic matters on Earth.
A Brewing Power Game?
Meanwhile, other established spacefaring nations are advanced in utilizing and interacting in outer space. Ever since the Cold War, their presence has settled the rules on outer space. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 remains relevant as the basis of international conduct for exploring and using outer space. Moreover, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) ensures peace, sustainable development, and cooperation amongst UN member-states.
Regarding physical distance, space agencies like NASA and China National Space Administration (CNSA) plan to have missions to explore Mars. While there are artificial satellites that have already reached interstellar space, like Voyager 1 and 2, this is a new frontier for possible crew missions, with the previous ones going only to the moon. These satellites and various organizations are notable advancements in outer space exploration.
However, focusing on these aspects would be idealistic. While international law aims to provide clarity, outer space is being framed as a frontier of tension that serves as an extension of the competition of great powers here on Earth. From here, armed conflicts can occur. With these scenarios in mind, the United States established the Space Force as another branch of its Armed Forces. While it seems to be a decision based on science fiction, it was a response to satellites being utilized for kinetic and non-kinetic measures by various militaries on Earth.
Ultimately, there is no international police force to enforce international law, even in outer space. Therefore, the actions of different actors in outer space must adapt to the dictates of powerful states. Other states must prepare to defend, balance, hedge, or bandwagon for their security in this brewing power game.
What Goes Above Came from Below
From here, the possibilities of and occurrences in outer space depend on international relations on the ground. This is the situation that the Philippines finds itself in. While great powers plan to go to Mars, it is still building microsatellites around Earth’s orbit to be launched from foreign soil.
It is already in a precarious position here on Earth, being in a geopolitical hotspot in the middle of the Indo-Pacific region. It faces high tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea while having a military alliance with the United States. China and the US have had uneasy diplomatic relations for the past decade. While there is no direct translation yet of its situation to the outer space, the premonitions of the future recommend caution and awareness for the Philippines as it builds assets and includes outer space in its agenda. For one, potential attacks on Philippine satellites by hostile states in the coming years are in the realm of possibility.
The Philippines, therefore, must continue cooperating in space exploration and be mindful of the implications of its alliances and tensions. Domestically, it must orient and educate its people on the importance of outer space in their daily lives, to the point that it becomes ingrained in their culture. Both are necessary if the state is to survive the next frontier, whatever it brings. The Philippines can also be an inspiration for other emerging space nations. The blueprint is to cooperate (at least for now) and fortify one’s domestic elements and security.
Last But Should Not Be Lost
The Philippines and other emerging space nations are not expected to lead “the way to infinity and beyond”. For better or worse, this responsibility or function falls to the strong spacefaring nations. However, they can still be relevant and thrive as the future of international relations proceeds to outer space. The fact that they are surviving as states on planet earth means that they already have tested methods to use above. Their prospects as emerging space nations can still be promising.
John Louis B. Benito graduated from the Master of Arts in International Studies Major in European Studies Program at De La Salle University in 2024. His research interests, articles, and academic publications revolve around international migration, critical security, outer space, sustainable development, and securitization. LinkedIn: John Louis Benito | LinkedIn ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6610-4350
Photo by Igor Mashkov
