OpinionChina has key role to play as Duterte tries to build on victory over Islamic State
The victory of the Philippine armed forces over the militants in Marawi was built on support from a wide range of allies. Winning the peace will require a similar effort
The longest and bloodiest conflict in modern Philippine history has finally come to an end. After five months of intensive clashes between government troops and Islamic State-affiliated militants, the city of Marawi has finally been liberated and their leaders neutralised.
This marks a major setback for extremist groups in southern Philippine island of Mindanao, a potential site for the IS command’s next wilayat or governorate.
For now, the prospect of a distant caliphate in Southeast Asia has been contained. President Rodrigo Duterte, however, faces the daunting task of pre-empting terrorist plots by remnants of the IS-affiliated movement, reconstructing a heavily devastated Marawi, and restarting peace negotiations with major rebel groups.
To achieve these objectives, he will have to continue soliciting much-needed external assistance. This could come from traditional allies, particularly the United States and Australia, but also China, his new strategic partners.
So far Beijing has provided more than US$1 million for the treatment of injured soldiers and about US$14 million in defence equipment.