President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. flew to China on Tuesday for a three-day state visit, as he seeks to open what he called Manila’s “new chapter” with Beijing even amid lingering tensions due to political and security issues in the West Philippine Sea.
Yet Marcos, since taking office, has also moved to mend ties with Washington in what some foreign policy watchers described as a “delicate balancing act.”Julio Amador III, president of the Foundation for the National Interest, said the trip was crucial, considering the country’s economic ties and “rocky” security issues with China.
“He has to have a serious discussion about Taiwan and South China Sea… It will also be to the benefit of China if it says its intent on Taiwan in Southeast Asia. It has to recognize the sentiment of Southeast Asia toward Taiwan,” he told the Inquirer. “I look forward to my meeting with President Xi as we work toward shifting the trajectory of our relations to a higher gear that would hopefully bring numerous prospects and abundant opportunities for the peace and development to the peoples of both our countries,” the president said.
“You were the first to come to our aid,” he said, adding that aside from vaccines, Beijing also provided personal protective equipment and technical assistance to the country. Tourism Secretary Ma. Christina Frasco, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy, Press Undersecretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, and other Cabinet members were also part of the delegation.Also on Tuesday, activist groups Bayan, Pamalakaya, and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas urged the president to stand his ground and assert the Philippines’ sovereignty over the disputed waters in the South China Sea.
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