China-Philippines relations moving forward for the better

Rabi Sankar Bosu

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to the Philippines from November 12 to 16 and participation in three major ASEAN meetings – the 20th China-ASEAN, ASEAN-China-Japan-South Korea, and the 12th East Asia Summit are quite significant. It is the first time in over 10 years that a Chinese premier is visiting the country, after Wen Jiabao who attended the Second East Asia Summit in the central Philippine city of Cebu in January 2007. It is also the first foreign trip of Premier Li after the recent-concluded 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which shows that China attaches great importance to China-Philippines relations. Surely Chinese Premier’s five-day visit to the Philippines is the start of a new beginning for building closer ties and cooperation with the Philippines. 

Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Manila, the Philippines on November 12, at the invitation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte who met Li for the first time in September 2016 during the ASEAN Summit in Laos. Welcoming Premier Li, Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said high-level exchanges have laid a solid foundation for the improvement of bilateral relations, pledging that the Philippines seeks a stronger relationship with China. Noting the great importance of bilateral ties, Premier Li said, “China is willing to strengthen mutual political trust with the Philippines, expand beneficial cooperation and reinforce exchanges at all levels.” 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Aquilino Pimentel, Senate president of the Philippines, in in Manila, the Philippines, on Wednesday, November 15, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

Undoubtedly, a solid friendship between China and the Philippines serves the fundamental interests of both countries and people, and are conducive to regional peace and development. "It is believed that the visit will vigorously advance bilateral relations in the new era and promote China-Philippines relations to become an important practice of building a new type of international relations as well as a community with a shared future for mankind," said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong in a November 6 press briefing on Li's visit.

Actually, after attending the 20th China-ASEAN, ASEAN-China-Japan-South Korea, and the 12th East Asia Summit from November 12 to 14, Premier Li Keqiang will start his official visit to the Philippines. It is expected that during his meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel, Speaker of the House of Representatives Pantaleon Alvarez and other political heavyweights of the Philippines, Premier Li will explain China's diplomatic policy toward neighboring countries in the spirit of the "new era" that President Xi Jinping envisioned at the 19th CPC National Congress. The two countries are expected to sign cooperation agreements on infrastructure, economy, trade, investment, and social, people-to-people, and cultural engagement.

As regards to China-Philippines ties, the diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines was established on June 9, 1975. Over the past 42 years, bilateral relations between the two countries continue to strengthen, despite some political differences. In fact, the election of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 has ushered in a spring season for friendly cooperation between the two countries in terms of trade and economic cooperation. Since Duterte’s first official state visit to China in October last year, the overall bilateral relations have been normalized, and China has become more involved in Philippines’ domestic and socio-economic agenda.

It is worth mentioning that China-Philippine relations became strained in 2012 because of the South China Sea issue. However, since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power on June 30 last year, he has moved the country away from its longtime ally – the United States – and has sought to build strong partnerships with China and Russia. In his first meeting with President Xi last October in Beijing, he declared his "separation" from the United States and both sides agreed to resume talks to resolve their "border" disputes regarding the South China Sea. Hopefully, the Philippines has decided to shelve its campaign to protect its perceived maritime interests in the South China Sea. Cooperation between China and ASEAN has also gone further. China and some of its neighbors have seen the warming of ties recently.

It is relevant to mention here that on November 11, 2017 Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President Rodrigo Duterte on strengthening bilateral ties on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam. Xi said that since Duterte's visit to China in October last year, bilateral ties have opened a new chapter. Xi said good-neighborliness and friendliness is the right direction guiding China-Philippines relations, and China, together with the Philippines, is willing to continue considering the bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, enhancing political mutual trust, deepening cooperation and bringing more benefits to the two peoples.

Highlighting the importance of the issue of freedom of navigation through the vast South China Sea, Premier Li Keqiang, in a newspaper article titled "Opening a new chapter of China-Philippines relations," published in the Philippine Star on November 12, said that differences over the water body has been the reason for ‘setback’ in bilateral ties between Beijing and Manila in the past and urged a solution for the differences. “Our countries do have different views on certain issues and our relations encountered a setback due to the South China Sea issue. As the saying goes, “The wise expand common ground while the unwise aggravate differences,” the Premier said in the article.

Significantly, on November 13 in Manila, the leaders of the 10-nation Southeast Asian bloc and China have agreed to start the negotiations for the text of a binding document on the South China Sea. It is worth a note that the framework on the Code of Conduct (COC) reached in August was a notable development in the maritime dispute which involves China and four ASEAN member-states including the Philippines.

Hopefully, ASEAN countries have gradually realized that intervention by the US and Japan will only add complexity to the South China Sea issue. The Philippines and Vietnam are now trying to solve the maritime disputes peacefully with China. Global Times pointed out, “South China Sea doesn’t need outside help.” Undoubtedly, the lukewarm response of Vietnam and the Philippines toward US President Donald Trump's offer as a mediator to the South China Sea claimants indicates that US policy on the South China Sea needs adjustment.

Surely, since taking office of President Duterte, relations between China and the Philippines have entered a “golden period of fast development” under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries, touting growth in trade and their efforts to settle disputes in the South China Sea. On his arrival, Premier Li lauded the China-Philippines relationship as "seeing a rainbow after the storm and showing a good momentum across the board". To take bilateral relations forward, Li stressed three aspects, namely good faith and sincerity, results-oriented cooperation, as well as affinity between the two peoples.

The Philippines attaches great importance to China's status and influence in the world, and is willing to build stronger relations with China. On November 12, Premier Li said that China is ready to work with the Philippines to continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly bilateral consultation. This can be done by giving full play to mechanisms such as the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea. Again on November 14 at the 12th East Asia Summit, Li said, “China will firmly safeguard the freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea.”

China is now promoting economic cooperation projects, under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative which got the full support of the Philippines. During the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on 13-15 May 2017, lauding the B & R Initiative, President Duterte said, "We note that (Xi) desired the Belt and Road as a bridge for peace, a road to prosperity, a way to boost inclusive growth and balanced development, and to promote equality." Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano praised B & R Initiative to link countries through infrastructure development as “a big idea in a world that is searching and wanting for big ideas”. 

Facts speak that China-Philippines ties are on the bright road. China is ready to be the most "sincere and long standing cooperation partner" of the Philippines as it moves along the road to future development.  The two countries had signed 22 cooperation agreements in less than six months and China had become the Philippines’ biggest trading partner for the first time. Although the Philippines' economy has seen rapid growth in the past few years, it is still weak in infrastructure and is in need of foreign investment. This year on March 17, the two countries signed a Six-Year Development Program for Economic and Trade Cooperation that will serve as the overall framework for economic relations from 2017-2022.

Surely, China’s peaceful development, openness, inclusiveness and progress through cooperation will bring important opportunities for the Philippines, the rest of Asia and the world. China has never been involved in interfering with the internal affairs of other countries. This is a fact that can be easily verified. Belt and Road initiative alone should provide enough assurance. With the rise of anti-globalization sentiments and trade protectionism worldwide, it is opportune time for the Philippines and other ASEAN countries to work together with China for the benefit of their people ramping up cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence. Surely, a commendable progress will ultimately realize the purposes of globalization - prosperity by all and for all.

(Rabi Sankar Bosu, Secretary of New Horizon Radio Listeners’Club, West Bengal, India)