THE relationship between the Philippines and China is expected to become stronger and more reliable under the incoming administration of President-elect Ferdinand Bongbong/BBM’ Marcos Jr., who, together with his wife and some officials of his administration, even took the time off to attend the ‘2nd Award for the Promotion of Philippines-China Understanding’ (APPCU) last Friday, June 10, 2022.
During his speech, BBM recalled that he was “lucky enough to attend” many of the celebrations commemorating the friendship between China and the Philippines since the establishment of “normal relationship” between the two countries on June 9, 1975, such as the APPCU event that was held at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.
It was BBM’s parents, President Marcos Senior and First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who initiated the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, beginning with the visit of the First Lady, along with then 17-years old BBM, to Beijing in 1974.
Diplomatic ties was formalized the following year, on June 9, 1975, when President Marcos and his family paid a state visit to Beijing and met with China’s top leaders, among them, Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai.
Chairman Mao would die the following year, on September 9, 1976, or just a year after overseeing the establishment of the formal relationship between China and the Philippines.
Speaking like his father without any notes, BBM said that in his view, both countries have a “very important relationship that must continue to evolve as the years go by.”
Prior to the AAPCU, BBM, in a previous interview, noted that China’s ambassador to the Philippines, HE Huang Xilian is the “first” foreign dignitary that he met face-to-face when Amb. Huang paid him a courtesy visit last May 12, 2022, bringing with him the congratulatory message from Pres. Xi Jinping and just 3 days after the Philippines’ national and local elections.
BBM won by a landslide, with a majority of more than 100 percent of votes cast over his nearest rival, Vice President Leni Robredo, whose run was supported by both US Imperialism and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Aside from his congratulatory message, Pres. Xi said he is willing to establish “good working relations” with BBM so they can work together to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership which will benefit both countries and their people.
“China and the Philippines, facing each other across the waters, have been good neighbors for a long time. Under joint efforts in recent years, bilateral ties have continued to improve, bringing benefits to both countries and contributing to regional peace and stability, Pres. Xi added.
Aside from encouraging the further development of formal Philippines-China relationship thru their respective governments and business deals, BBM said he would also encourage more “people-to-people” engagement among Filipinos and Chinese.
BBM said he believes that people to people engagement is another “direction that we can explore to strengthen the foundation of the two countries’ partnership and friendship.
Elaborating on the Philippines’ effort to overcome the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, BBM acknowledge the country has to rely on the assistance of its friends, partners and allies “and our strongest partner in that regard is our close neighbor and our good friend, the People’s Republic of China.”
US interference in the horizon
But as always, seeing throwing the monkey wrench in the deepening relationship between China and the Philippines is US Imperialism, which is already putting pressure on BBM to stick to its “anti-China” and “China containment” policy, primarily thru its minions in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) headed by Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., a well-known ‘Americanista.’
Discarding Pres. Duterte’s own decision to not attend the two-day US-ASEAN Summit that US President Joe Biden called from May 12 to May 13, 2022, in Washington, Locsin attended the meeting; Locsin also tied down the hands of the Philippines when he announced support for the US called sanctions against Russia over its military intervention in Eastern Ukraine last February 24, 2022.
On the occasion of the Philippines-China Friendship Day last June 9, 2022, the DFA also issued a press statement stating it has protested China’s alleged incursion into the Ayungin Shoal in the South China Sea, an incident that occurred early this year.
The DFA also protested the start of China’s fishing ban in areas of the South China Sea, claiming it is encroaching on the country’s national territory, despite no historical, legal and maritime basis to back up the protest—leading to China simply ignoring the protest and thus further embarrassing the country.
On the eve of the APPCU, the DFA also arranged for BBM to meet with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, as if to remind him of who really is the Philippines’ real master and who it should obey in the area of foreign policy.
2ND APPCU, a huge success
The Second Award for the Promotion of Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU), the first face-to-face awarding ceremony since its launching last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was held last June 10, 2022 and was declared a huge success with the presence of BBM and his First Lady Atty. Liza Araneta Marcos.
Also present are incoming Presidential Communications Secretary Atty. Trixie Angeles Cruz and incoming national security adviser, Prof. Clarita Carlos and former President Joseph Estrada, who was installed in the APPCU Hall of Fame.
On the other side, the APCU (Association to Promote Philippines China Understanding) was represented by Chinese Ambassador HE Huang Xilian, Secretary Raul Lambino, APCU Chair, Mr. Jeffrey Ng, APCU President and, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, APCU Chair Emeritus who delivered her message via video link.
The APPCU acknowledges and pays tribute to select Filipino individuals from both the public and private sectors who made outstanding contributions for the strengthening of the relationship and understanding between China and the Philippines. The APPCU has 3 categories— 2 awardees for the Hall of Fame, 4 awardees for the Outstanding Contributions and 4 awardees for the Major Contributions.
Paul M. Gutierrez, Pinoy Exposé Publisher and 2-term National Press Club (NPC) president is among the awardees in the Major Contributions Category (also Pinoy Exposé, June 7, 2022; May 23, 2022 for full list and related articles).