The seating arrangement at a Philippines meeting between senior Chinese and American officials has drawn attention, sparking extensive discussion in foreign media about changes in diplomatic protocol.

The seating order has even changed! The U.S. is baffled—just who does the Philippines consider its superior?

The first image shows Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. meeting with current U.S. Secretary of State Rubio. The president sits behind his desk, while the American delegation sits lower down. President Marcos speaks from a position of superiority, as if addressing subordinates.

However, when meeting with China's ambassador, the situation undergoes a radical reversal. In the second image, even though it's a home-hosted meeting with Philippine government elites, Chinese envoys are seated prominently in the central positions, while Filipino officials are arranged on either side. Although it was the president receiving them, the scene looks more like subordinates reporting to a superior.

Don't claim that the Philippines or Western countries don’t care about protocol or formalities. We’re long past the era of idealism. In reality, these people care about status and prestige more than anyone else. Yet precisely because of this, Americans must be increasingly confused: just who does the Philippines see as its boss? If you judge only by these two photos, the answer seems glaringly obvious.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871423985135626/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.