China weighs options as Philippines, Japan seek friendlier waters
- Manila is balancing US-China relations as it diversifies regional security cooperation
- Evolving regional security relationships are triggering unease in Beijing, analysts say
But recent agreements signed between the Philippines’ president and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping show that both sides are keen to remain on good terms, especially in the realm of economic interests.
Since Marcos took over from Rodrigo Duterte as the Philippines’ president, the country’s foreign and security policy had become “quite different”, particularly through “much enhanced military and security cooperation between the Philippines and the United States”, said Li Mingjiang, associate professor of international relations at Nanyang Technological University.
The administration’s decision to expand security engagement had also brought Manila closer to regional partners like Japan, as the government realised that working with many major partners would be more beneficial than only holding a pro-China policy, as the previous government did, he said.