China ready for ‘golden era’ with the Philippines under Marcos Jnr
- Visit aims to reflect ‘continuity and stability of China’s friendly policy towards the Philippines’, Foreign Minister Wang Yi says in Manila
- Wang’s tour of Southeast Asia comes as region faces tricky balancing act between China and the US
The election of Marcos Jnr had “turned a new page” in the bilateral relationship after six years of positive development, Wang told Philippine national security adviser Clarita Carlos during a meeting in Manila on Wednesday.
“My visit is intended to reflect the importance China attaches to China-Philippines relations and its support for the new Philippine government, as well as the continuity and stability of China’s friendly policy towards the Philippines,” Wang said.
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Wang’s visit came less than a week after Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan attended the inauguration of Marcos Jnr, and held meetings with him as well as outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Sara, the new vice-president of the Philippines.
Beijing has repeatedly expressed its hopes of deeper and stronger ties with the Philippines, a major rival claimant in the South China Sea and a long-time US ally. Many analysts also expect Marcos Jnr to favour Beijing over Washington.
During their meeting, Wang and Carlos agreed to “not let the dispute define bilateral relations, and not let specific differences hinder cooperation between the two countries”, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.
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Carlos said the Philippines was willing to expand exchanges and cooperation with China, properly handle differences and promote mutual trust so as to accumulate goodwill and consolidate the friendship, the statement read.
Wang pledged that China would never “follow the old path of colonisation and plunder by the old major powers”, but adhere to peaceful development, cooperation, and sharing development opportunities with its neighbours.
“China and the Philippines are neighbours who cannot move away. Our only choice is to be friendly, friendly, and more friendly,” Wang said.
“In the face of the current international and regional situation, which is full of uncertainty and instability, the two sides should carry on the tradition of friendship and make China-Philippines relations more solid and resilient.”
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Increasing geopolitical rivalry between the US and China has left regional nations facing a tricky balancing act.
Wang’s tour of Southeast Asia comes as the US seeks to boost its influence in the region through its Indo-Pacific strategy. During his visits to Myanmar and Thailand, Wang met local leaders as well as counterparts from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam when he chaired the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation foreign ministers’ meeting in the Myanmese city of Bagan on July 4.
