New | Philippines’ ‘realistic’ Duterte to shift focus from South China Sea in dealings with Beijing: analysts
As incoming leader lauds China’s president as ‘great’, experts say he may be rethinking stance on sea disputes in hope of economic concessions
Tensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea are cooling as the Philippines’ incoming president takes a more positive approach towards Beijing, paving the way for possible talks between the two nations over their territorial disputes.
In moves seen as each side extending an olive branch to the other, the Philippine president-elect, Rodrigo Duterte, called Xi Jinping a “great president” – after Xi told him in a congratulatory note that bilateral ties should “get back on the track of sound development”.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi also welcomed the potential warming of relations with Manila.
Duterte’s conciliatory stance towards Beijing is a sharp departure from that of his predecessor Benigno Aquino, analysts say.
Ties between the two nations were strained under Aquino, especially when Manila took the South China Sea disputes to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Beijing has refused to participate in the case and said it would not accept the decision, which is expected this month.
Philippines’ Duterte offers hand of friendship to China
Duterte was not likely to drop the arbitration case but he “doesn’t consider [the ruling] to be an obstacle for improving ties with China”, said Chito Sta Romana, president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies.
