When Xi meets Duterte: is the China-Philippines honeymoon over?

Philippine president has gone out of his way to improve relations with Beijing since his 2016 election

However, tensions in the South China Sea seem likely to cast a long shadow over his upcoming visit

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An activist outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila steps on a paper Chinese flag during a protest against the sinking of a fishing boat. Photo: EPA

Published: 8:00am, 13 Aug 2019Updated: 3:39pm, 12 Dec 2019

When Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visits China later this month, he intends to raise with Chinese President Xi Jinping the contentious topic of Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea – and the 2016 UN arbitration ruling negating its territorial claims there.

This has raised speculation that Manila is ready to take a harder line on its relations with Beijing, and on the South China Sea in particular, as since becoming president, Duterte has gone out of his way to embrace Beijing and Xi personally.

The apparent change in stance has some analysts questioning whether the “love” Duterte has previously professed for China is beginning to fade and whether the honeymoon between Manila and Beijing may be ending.

They say the present situation feels markedly different to Duterte’s first trip to China, in 2016, when he practically threw himself at the feet of China’s ruling politburo seeking support.

After announcing “my separation from the United States” to much applause, he pleaded: “I come here and say, I am not asking for free but if I could – [if] China would find in his heart to help us in our needs, then we will remember you for all time.”

China was delighted. President Xi Jinping called Duterte’s visit “a milestone”, the two nations “neighbours” and “its peoples blood brothers”.