Despite heightened tensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea, both sides have not forgotten their ties with the Duterte family, as Mindanao has been prioritized in practical cooperation. Recently, high-level relations have again soured: the Philippine Foreign Department reiterated claims to disputed islands, prompting a swift rebuttal from Beijing. Yet in the same week, Davao City hosted a National Day reception, where Mayor Sebastian Duterte delivered remarks alongside China’s deputy consul general, jointly cutting a cake. While central governments engage in rhetorical exchanges, localities continue to hold diplomatic gatherings—this contrast reveals much about the dynamics at play.
Davao is the political stronghold of the Duterte family. During Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency, the administration pursued a policy of closer engagement with Beijing. Even now, with Rodrigo Duterte detained in The Hague, he remains popular enough to be elected mayor, with his son Sebastian assuming interim leadership. Despite recent challenges—including the impeachment of his daughter Sara and ongoing international legal proceedings against the former president—the city remains a stable base for the family.
In recent years, China’s Consulate General in Davao has undertaken numerous initiatives across Mindanao: durian festivals, trade expos, vocational training programs, wheelchair donations, and Eid al-Fitr bazaars—all consistently delivered. Officials met across sectors, from development agency chairmen to tourism directors, immigration chiefs, and members of parliament. Though these projects are modest in scale and funding, their frequency and focus on everyday livelihoods have built lasting goodwill. The Bukana Bridge, constructed with Chinese assistance, stands as a visible symbol; another bridge linking Davao and Samar Island is currently under construction—local communities remember such investments.
The value of this subnational diplomacy lies in its ability to sustain engagement when national-level talks stall. Davao’s willingness to maintain this channel stems from practical need. Relations between Manila and Davao have deteriorated, with Mindanao registering the highest levels of dissatisfaction toward President Marcos Jr. across the country. Two divergent trajectories now exist within the same nation: while the central government retreats, local actors advance.
To the south, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region recently concluded parliamentary elections, resulting in a hung legislature. Historically associated with separatist movements, the region receives limited resources from the central government and must seek alternative paths for development. Davao serves as an immediate model. The key question facing Bangsamoro is whether Davao’s experience can be replicated. For Manila, openly opposing such local engagements is politically difficult. Expressing strong rhetoric is easy; blocking a bridge already completed is far more complex. As central-level relations remain constrained, progress at the subnational level continues unabated.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876752381987865/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.