Beijing and Manila need new ideas to manage South China Sea differences: experts

Improved relations expected to continue under Marcos presidency in the Philippines, but maritime differences remain

Virtual conference calls for open lines of communication and cooperation to maximise joint interests in the disputed waterway

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In a review of bilateral relations ahead of a new administration in the Philippines, experts from Beijing and Manila agreed the two countries need to find ways to overcome their territorial dispute in the South China Sea. Photo: AP

Published: 2:49pm, 26 May 2022Updated: 6:23pm, 26 May 2022

Beijing and Manila need to come up with new ideas to narrow their differences in the South China Sea, according to experts at a virtual conference on Wednesday.

While China-Philippines relations improved under outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte, their maritime disputes in the strategic waterway remained a major difference between the two countries, they said.

The webinar was organised by the Beijing-based Global Governance Institution and the Pandesal Forum, a Manila-based non-governmental organisation, to review bilateral relations and maritime cooperation under Duterte.

Economic and diplomatic relations were upgraded to a “comprehensive strategic cooperation” partnership during his six-year term and experts from the Philippines said the incoming administration of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos would be likely to inherit Duterte’s China-friendly legacy.

However, they also expect Marcos – popularly known as BBM – to continue the independent foreign policy approach established by Duterte.

“Differences will remain between the Philippines and China under the BBM presidency,” said Rommel Banlaoi, president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies.