After a surprise meeting this week between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and past Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, Presidential Communications Office minister Cheloy Garafil stated that the former leader” gave some nice pieces of advice to President Marcoses.”
Without offering any specifics, Malacaang Palace said that the two men talked about” another problems” as well as the former president’s recent trip to Beijing. & nbsp,
The contentious vacation last month, during which Chinese President Xi Jinping requested Duterte’s help to improve diplomatic relations, was unsuccessful in Manila. Rumors of a falling out between the two were fueled by Deuterte’s outspoken criticism of Marcos Jr. ‘ military cooperation with the West as well as his choice to omit his subsequent State of the Nation Address( SONA ) last week. & nbsp,
But, Duterte and Marcos both expressed 1 during their meeting this year, reiterating their long-standing ally as the de facto ruling alliance in the Philippines. According to reports, Deuterte pushed Marcos to change his foreign coverage, particularly his harsh position against China in the South China Sea. & nbsp,
However, Marcos has also been put under increasing pressure to maintain his lessons by his friends in the West. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, traveled to Manila this week to advocate for a new age of EU-Philippines security cooperation with an attention toward China. & nbsp,
The US Embassy in Manila, however, openly criticized a Chinese company’s involvement in an ongoing, massive renewal project in the Spanish cash. The infamously conflict-averse Marcos Jr., who is now in his second month in business, has all of a sudden found himself caught between rival friends, both at home and abroad. & nbsp,
Duterte has been more vocal with his views on foreign policy in recent months, despite his earlier promise to leave from office completely. Marcos Jr. visited Beijing without consulting with Philippine officials after openly criticizing his choice to increase military cooperation with Washington under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement( EDCA ). & nbsp,
Duterte was asked to” continue to play an important role in the pleasant participation” between the two places during a high-profile conference with Xi. The incident caused a commotion at apartment, with Marcos backers and opponents criticizing the journey. & nbsp,
The trip to Beijing by Duterte raises questions.
Duterte allies have attempted to portray the contentious explore as a proper exercise in covert diplomacy in an effort to counter accusations of the original president interfering with foreign policy. & nbsp,
Given the author’s” good position” with the Beijing management, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, former foreign minister to Duterte, was quick to describe his former benefactor as a positive contribution to bilateral diplomacy. & nbsp,
” President Duterte has never been seen to compromise and sell the Philippines. In response to reviewers who claimed Duterte was acting as Beijing’s proxies, Cayetano told the media that although his eloquent tongue is different and he speaks separately,” he never sold out and will not sell out the Philippines.” & nbsp,
Marcos himself attempted to downplay the event in an effort to avoid a fight with an important ally. & nbsp,
The president told the media in advance of his meeting with Duterte this week,” As long as there will be someone who can aid, I am sure that he shall be able to tell us what happened during their talk and see how that affects us.”
The former president even met with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, and special aide to President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo during his visit to Malacaang. & nbsp,
Marcos’ corporate calculus appears to have been impacted by Duterte’s treatment. He just had a meeting with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to talk about the South China Sea’s aggressive behavior against Spanish ships, which were just proposed to be” highly condemned” by China.
The Philippine Coast Guard( PCG) accused Chinese ships of & nbsp earlier this year after directing a military-grade laser at the PCG crew.
The Senate ultimately decided on a watered-down resolution, which eschewed opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros’ call for the & nbsp, Department of Foreign Affairs to immediately take China’s actions to the United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA ), likely as the result of the president intervening. & nbsp,
West seduces Marcos Jr.
Von der Leyen discussed the need to” promote a new age of teamwork” between the Philippines and the European Union during her visit to Manila, emphasizing how the two” share so many values and interests” as other democracies, including the necessity of maintaining” the global rules-based get.” American allies have intensified their efforts to win over Marcos Jr.
During her meeting with Marcos, she criticized China for failing to” assume fully its responsibility under the UN Charter to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine” as well as” China’s more assertive stance in your region ] Southeast Asia.”
In the midst of rising tensions in the South China Sea, she emphasized the EU’s commitment to” strengthen cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security ,” including by improving” the capacity of your National Coast Watch Center( NCWC ) and your Coast Guard.” & nbsp,
The US Embassy, which is situated in the Manila Bay region, has even publicly criticized a Taiwanese firm that has been blacklisted for its role in restoration efforts there. & nbsp,
According to ambassador official Kanishka Gangopadhyay,” we have expressed concerns about the potential long-term and catastrophic impacts on the culture, the tenacity to biological hazards of Manila and adjacent areas, and to commerce.”
The embassy focused in particular on & nbsp, China Communications Construction Co ( CCCC ), a business that has received US Department of Commerce Entity List sanctions for” assisting the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea.” The World Bank has also placed the Chinese firm on a blacklist due to dubious business techniques. & nbsp,
The Duterte administration, which approved large-scale allows between 2019 and 2021 for a total of 13 restoration projects covering 5, 000 acres in the Manila Bay region, left behind the presence of CCCC. & nbsp,
The US, which is possible even worried about its own security, hopes that the Marcos Jr. administration will rethink Duterte-era projects given to Foreign businesses. Due to a lack of funding and high interest rates, Manila suspended two large-ticket railroad jobs next year under the auspices of Beijing. & nbsp,
Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, the current culture minister, vowed to examine the projects based on concerns voiced by the relevant sectors. & nbsp,
Restoration has a certain value, evidently in terms of the economy, in my opinion. Loyzaga emphasized the Marcos government’s willingness to examine contentious Duterte-era projects, including those with Chinese connections, while stating that” we need to do the cost-benefit analysis in terms of the effect to the biodiversity and the longer-term impact, possibly what could result from climate change.” & nbsp,