[Rappler’s Best] Manila warms up to Beijing

It took a US-initiated war, ironically.

The month-old conflict in the Middle East that has choked the global supply chain is providing the “impetus” — in the words of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — for Manila to assess its frayed ties with Beijing, leading to (in Marcos’ words again) “a very, very serious restructuring.” 

The President made these candid remarks in an interview with Bloomberg last week, which you can read more about here.

Marcos was elaborating on a possible Philippines-China joint energy exploration in the South China Sea, where, since Marcos was elected to office in 2022, China’s mighty civilian and military vessels have harassed the Philippines’ tiny and ill-equipped ships.

One cannot underestimate the impact of Marcos’ statement on our frontliners in the West Philippine Sea, coming as it did from their commander-in-chief. 

• What would a reset of ties mean for both sides that have been colliding in the high seas for years now? Just on Wednesday, March 25, a Chinese Navy frigate sailed close to the BRP Benguet off the waters of Pag-asa Island, the largest Philippine-occupied island with a permanent civilian population in the West Philippine Sea. 
• The Philippines, of course, can engage with China economically while protecting its sovereign rights. Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio pointed this out shortly after Marcos was elected and signaled a reset of Duterte-era strained ties with the US and a pivot away from China.
• Like Vietnam, the Philippine government can have strong economic and trade relations with China but, with vigilance, still be “protective of its sovereign rights,” Carpio said then. China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner yet does not back off from confrontations with China’s incursions into its exclusive economic zone.

We’re not Vietnam, though. And Marcos looks to reset these ties at a time when the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy have been wounded, when angry words and false claims have been said, when information warfare has been unleashed, and when spying has been exposed. 

Experts have warned that any deal that would allow sharing energy resources could be seen as giving away territory or sovereignty.

Yet, who can blame Marcos or other leaders for that matter? The US — a staunch ally, a committed protector — has apparently gone rogue and grown unreliable. Rappler sums up the impact of the war on Filipinos in this special report. 

But back to Manila’s new friend.

• In two-day meetings in Quanzhou that ended on Saturday, March 28, the Philippines and China held “initial exchanges on potential oil and gas cooperation.” The meetings were held under the auspices of the Foreign Ministry Consultations and Bilateral Consultation Mechanism of both countries — previously stalled by the strained relations of both countries.
• As Bea Cupin wrote, even before the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, the Marcos administration already began the year seeking a “fresh start” in its ties with China. 
• The two countries’ top diplomats met for the first time in over a year in January, on the sidelines of a senior officials’ meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Cebu. 
• Bea Cupin tells us that a Duterte-era arrangement between the coast guards of Manila and Beijing for formal cooperation looks like it’s going to be signed sooner rather than later. Yet the Philippine Coast Guard said it’s not involved in the talks.

It’s worth remembering that the previous Duterte regime also attempted to resume oil exploration talks with China but eventually abandoned it as the term of then-president Rodrigo Duterte neared its end.

In 2023, the Supreme Court voided a tripartite agreement among corporations from China, Vietnam, and the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company for a joint exploration of parts of the South China Sea, including those within the country’s exclusive economic zone. The Court spelled out what was unconstitutional in the agreement — a lesson that must be avoided in future talks. Read about it here.

Here are some of Rappler’s bests that you shouldn’t miss:

Jose Antonio Custodio asks: What to do with Filipinos found spying for China? 

James Patrick Cruz brings some cheer amid the bedlam: the community pantry has returned. Here’s our Metro Manila fuel price tracker.

Lidy Nacpil explains why Malacañang is wrong about the wealth tax. 

Jairo Bolledo sits down with Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, who talks about her battle with cancer and her fight to make the legal system better for women.

Gelo Gonzales walks us through a study on AI systems to “excessively agree with, flatter, or validate users.” In short, sycophancy.

Isagani de Castro Jr. says the government is on PR overdrive in the current oil crisis, and gives a reality check on the oil shipments that have come in trickles. Here’s a list of closed gas stations nationwide. 

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– Rappler.com

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The views expressed by the writer are his/her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Rappler.