Friend to all enemy to none

PHILIPPINES - In Brief 11 Jan 2023 by Romeo Bernardo

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Ever since Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. came into office in July last year, his foreign affairs team has been busily working at re-centering Philippine foreign policy after the extreme pro-US then pro-China stances of the previous two administrations. In his words, President Marcos defined his foreign policy as one where the Philippines is “a friend to all and an enemy to none.” To recall, the Aquino administration (2010-16) brought China to international arbitral court[1] in 2014 over disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea / South China Sea (WPS/SCS). Although the Philippines won the case[2], the Duterte administration (2016-2022) opted to set the issue aside in its desire to encourage more Chinese investments in the country, especially in infrastructure. Nonetheless, this has not stopped government from issuing hundreds of diplomatic protests[3] against Chinese activities in the WPS/SCS. So far, the Marcos administration is managing well the difficult balancing act of reestablishing close ties with the U.S., including strengthening the two countries’ military alliance, while reassuring China that it continues to value its relationship which, both countries have emphasized, goes beyond maritime issues. At the topmost level, President Marcos has met with US President Joe Biden at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September last year and with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Thailand in November. Last week, he embarked on a state visit to China, his first outside ASEAN, describing the trip as a “good start” and the discussions “fruitful.” The President brought back with him 14 sign...