Letters | Marcos charting diversified course for Philippine foreign policy

Readers discuss the Philippine president’s attempt to balance relations with the US and China, and the death of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini while in police custody

Reading Time:2 minutes

Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr speaks at the UN General Assembly in New York, US, on September 20. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:30pm, 27 Sep 2022

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification.

The diplomatic tactics of the Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr administration usher in a new era of Philippine foreign policy. One can easily see his administration continuing cordial relations with China, strengthening their economic cooperation, while rebuilding its relationship with the US, which it hopes would recommit to being a guarantor of Philippine security.

Marcos attended the High-Level Week of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York last week and met with representatives of overseas Filipino workers in the US.

Earlier this month, Marcos also visited the neighbouring countries of Indonesia and Singapore with aspirations of strengthening social and economic bilateral relations. This diplomatic move shows the importance of re-engaging with the region, which could strengthen Southeast Asia’s position in global affairs and even contribute to the possibility of multipolarity. While Philippine foreign policy conduct changes, the attitude of the US and China and the perception of the region will as well.

As Marcos pursues an independent foreign policy that holds out the Philippines as being “a friend to all and enemy to none”, it is expected that China’s strategic engagement with the country will also be redefined, especially in consideration of President Xi Jinping’s attempt to push for the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”. After three months in office, the Marcos administration can already be seen diversifying foreign relations.

Amid the changing world order, a consensus on where we are heading is still difficult to find. We can expect to see middle-power countries such as the Philippines play a more active role under new leadership in their foreign relations.