Duterte treads the right track

Following reports that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to visit China in late October, Beijing has welcomed the move. Duterte is known for his bold remarks. But since assuming office, he has pursued a normal diplomatic policy toward China and tried to correct his predecessor Benigno Aquino III’s foreign policy of antagonizing China and seeking other countries’ intervention in the South China Sea issue.

Duterte hopes to resolve the maritime disputes with China through bilateral talks and has refused to be part of the “joint patrols” with the United States in the sea. He has even talked of expelling US troops from the Philippines.

But if Duterte is trying to change any policy, he has the interests of the Philippines in mind. For the Philippines, China is a neighbor while the US is a non-regional country. Only stable political ties can help Beijing and Manila to build and advance their economic and trade ties.

China is the world’s economic locomotive and the Philippines’ economic development is inseparable from its enormous market.

With the world economy still struggling, the Philippines needs closer economic and trade links, not conflicts, with China, as well as China’s support for its infrastructure construction.

As an astute politician, Duterte knows what his country needs. He understands that the easing of tensions and improvement in relations with Beijing will create more opportunities for the Philippines to benefit from China’s development.

Compared with the US, China’s policy of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs could also be a reason behind Duterte’s stance, especially because Aquino III’s policy of allowing Washington to use Manila as a chess piece in its “pivot to Asia” strategy has created a sense of insecurity in the Philippines.

It is thus natural for Duterte to change Manila’s policy toward Beijing and put bilateral ties back on track.