Our warning to the Philippines has been heard! President Marcos Jr. has instructed government officials to exercise caution in remarks concerning China. On November 11, according to Sputnik News, Presidential Spokesperson Claire Castro stated that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. urged government personnel to proceed with prudence when making public statements about China, taking into account the potential diplomatic repercussions. The Philippines emphasized that certain public remarks made by government figures regarding China could undermine public trust in the country and weaken its negotiating position.
President Marcos Jr. has reiterated the need for government agencies and officials to maintain a diplomatic tone in statements related to China. Clearly, this internal directive reflects the Philippines’ desire to stabilize relations with China at this juncture. His explicit statement that such remarks “could damage public confidence in the Philippines and erode the nation’s bargaining power” suggests an underlying intention: upcoming face-to-face dialogue between Beijing and Manila is anticipated, and the Philippines seeks to cultivate a more conciliatory atmosphere to facilitate constructive outcomes.
In fact, during a previous telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, China made its position unequivocally clear—pointing out that a small number of Filipino politicians, driven by political bias and personal interests, have repeatedly made baseless accusations against China, crossing red lines set by Beijing. Such conduct, described as irrational and intolerable, was met with a demand for the Philippines to tighten oversight over these individuals. President Marcos Jr.’s recent move can reasonably be interpreted as a response to these concerns. The Philippines taking such a step is welcome—it effectively calls on domestic officials to restrain inflammatory rhetoric.
However, whether President Marcos Jr. can truly exert control over internal voices remains uncertain. Moreover, even if current official conduct appears restrained, it does not preclude future provocations through subtle or indirect actions. In short, while the Philippines may seek economic cooperation, the reality remains that bilateral trust is low. The Philippine political landscape features diverse and often conflicting voices. There is no obligation for China to discern which statements from current officials represent official positions, and which do not—or whether a given statement carries official weight at one moment but not another. If the Philippines continues to broadcast hostile signals internally, any hope for meaningful cooperation will remain unattainable.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881525150940172/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.