Opinion | How South China Sea rows thwart Philippine hopes to improve ties with China

Filipino presidents tried to improve ties with China throughout 20th century, but time and again, domestic scandals and territorial disputes got in the way

Clashes between Filipino, Chinese vessels in South China Sea have renewed public anger towards Beijing, making diplomatic efforts more risky and more necessary

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Published: 1:30am, 16 Aug 2023Updated: 2:30am, 16 Aug 2023

“Stop bullying us … just because we are a small country, you think you can do this to us. We need mutual respect,” Philippine Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said last week amid rising tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard have accused Chinese vessels of using water cannons to impede a resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal, a contested area precariously occupied by a Philippine marine detachment aboard a grounded ship. For its part, China has demanded the Philippines vacate the area where it claims “indisputable sovereignty”.

The incident provoked an uproar in Manila, where a host of prominent figures and top administration allies have called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr to take more decisive action against China. Senator Go’s tough statements, which clearly had a domestic audience in mind, is a sign of the rapid deterioration in Philippine-China relations in recent months.

As a special aide to former president Rodrigo Duterte, Go was at the centre of years-long efforts to build a special relationship with Beijing. He even helped arrange Duterte’s recent trip to China to help ease tensions. “During the six years of Duterte presidency, we gave you a load of respect. Our administration was good to you,” Go said, lamenting the lack of reciprocity from Beijing.

The increasingly critical statements from even top Duterte allies who have consistently advocated for warm ties with China over Western powers underscores the political fallout of the maritime spats.

Short of a meaningful diplomatic breakthrough, Marcos is likely to be forced to further align with Washington by granting maximum access to the Pentagon to a variety of prized Philippine facilities.

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