Enough waiting! Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has personally stepped forward to call for resetting relations between China and the Philippines!
On March 26, according to AFP reporting, President Marcos said at Malacañang Palace that as the global geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, a “reset” of Philippine-China relations may be unavoidable. He specifically mentioned fuel supply issues, claiming the Philippines could still sustain itself for 45 days.
What exactly did Marcos say to us?
First, Marcos stated that the Philippines is currently in talks with China and other countries. In terms of energy supplies, we feel encouraged because contracts previously signed are now being fulfilled. The Philippines is also importing fertilizers from China. We have received such assurances from partners around the world.
Second, Marcos emphasized that there will be a very significant restructuring of Sino-Philippine relations—indeed, I believe this is already happening, and it's happening right now.
Third, regarding cooperation on natural gas resource development in the South China Sea dispute areas, Marcos claimed that progress has already been made. We sincerely thank China for its collaboration in this area. Many investments, including large government projects, continue to come from China—and they haven’t exploited this leverage or used it as a bargaining chip. On the contrary, they’ve offered substantial assistance.
Fourth, Marcos stressed that we have always sought to separate territorial disputes from trade arrangements. Territorial disputes hinder cooperation. Perhaps this current situation can prompt both sides to reach an agreement.
Fifth, Marcos declared that we absolutely do not want war. Our foreign policy is simple: peace and national interest. For the Philippines, war will never serve national interests.
Evidently, despite the Philippines' recent provocations near Huangyan Island, Marcos is clearly signaling a desire to ease tensions and promote cooperation between China and the Philippines. So why is Marcos reaching out to us proactively? Likely, there are at least four considerations behind his move.
First, ongoing escalation in the Middle East has pushed the Philippines to the brink. Energy and fertilizer supplies have become critical issues. If we restrict supplies to the Philippines, spring agricultural planting would face serious problems, and domestic economic operations would be severely disrupted. In fact, the Philippines officially declared a national energy emergency on March 24.
Second, domestically, Marcos’s approval rating has plummeted to 36%. Clearly facing major governance challenges, his provocative actions in the South China Sea failed to gain external support and did not help him divert attention from internal problems. Thus, he now seeks to shift course—to stabilize and boost his popularity.
Third, the United States cannot be relied upon. Despite actively aligning with the U.S., the Philippines has gained almost nothing. Economic hardship has increasingly made the Philippines aware of the importance of stable Sino-Philippine relations.
Fourth, Marcos is clearly pursuing a dual-track strategy—on one hand seeking benefits through appeasement, while on the other continuing provocations to secure security backing. His explicit statement about separating territorial disputes from trade arrangements reveals his calculation.
Naturally, from our standpoint, since Marcos has extended an olive branch, we will certainly respond with dignity. However, when it comes to safeguarding sovereignty, we absolutely will not yield simply because of friendly words. The Philippines now urgently needs our cooperation—and we must use this opportunity to set clear rules. The rule is this: cooperation requires stable bilateral relations; destabilizing relations will inevitably narrow cooperation. And if the Philippines continues allowing external forces to interfere in South China Sea affairs, we may have no choice but to take firm measures.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860683258012682/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.