MANILA — While the visit of former president Rodrigo Duterte to China has no official blessing from Malacañang, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is hopeful that the meeting would bring “progress” to the Philippines-China relations.
Duterte met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, July 17, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, China’s state media revealed amid the current Chief Executive’s efforts to reinvigorate the ties between the Philippines and the United States (US).
Asked if the former president’s meeting has his blessing, Marcos answered in the negative.
“No. Nag permiso? Hindi naman kailangan. Alam ko naman na pupunta siya. At magkaibigan sila, magkakilala sila. So, I hope that napagusapan nila ‘yung mga isyu na ngayon na mga nakikita natin, ‘yung mga shadowing, ‘yung mga kung anu-ano (Permission? There’s no need. I know that he’s going. And they are friends, they know each other. So, I hope they were able to discuss the issues now that we see, the shadowing, and others),” he said.
The President was referring to the activities of the Chinese Coast Guard in the contested South China Sea, which is claimed in whole by Beijing and in part by the Philippines and several other Southeast Asian countries.
Marcos also said he is open to “any new lines of communication.”
“If that is President PRRD then good. Hindi importante sa akin kung sino, kung ano. Basta’t me makausap sila baka makatulong eh (It’s not important to me who, or what. As long as there are discussions, it might help),” he added.
And while he would not require a report from the ex-president, Marcos expressed confidence that Duterte “will be able to tell us what happened during their conversation and see how that affects us.”
Under the previous Duterte administration, the relationship between China and the Philippines was at an all-time high.
Marcos’ win in the 2022 presidential elections, however, saw a stronger stance against China amid tensions in the region as the United States is allowed to put up additional sites under its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). (MB)
