Philippines Committed to Maintaining China Ties, Malacañang Says
Key Takeaways
- •Malacañang stated that the Philippines is not cutting ties with China and remains committed to sustaining bilateral business and investment relations.
- •Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said there is no prohibition on trade and investment dealings with China, which are being handled diplomatically.
- •China consistently ranks among the Philippines' largest trading partners, making the bilateral political climate directly relevant to businesses operating between the two economies.
- •Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio questioned whether President Marcos' comments implied that Filipinos conducting business with China are threats to the country.
- •Castro emphasized that commercial cooperation should remain separate from sovereignty protection amid long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
MANILA — The Philippines and China remain mutually dependent on each other for trade, Malacañang said on Tuesday, asserting that the commercial relationship endures even as the two nations continue to navigate ongoing diplomatic and maritime discussions.
Speaking at a news briefing, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said Manila is not severing ties with Beijing and remains committed to sustaining bilateral business and investment relations. Malacañang, the official residence and workplace of the Philippine president, is commonly used to refer to the Office of the President.
“There is no prohibition in dealing with China in relation to trade and investment,” Ms. Castro said. “And we are also dealing with China in a very diplomatic manner.”
“Real talk — China needs the Philippines, and the Philippines needs China when it comes to trade,” she added.
The stakes are not abstract: China has consistently ranked among the Philippines’ largest trading partners, giving the bilateral political climate direct relevance for businesses that move goods between the two economies.
Her remarks followed concerns raised by Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who questioned whether comments by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. implied that conducting business with China poses a security risk, saying the administration appears to consider her a threat.
“This is concerning because it is like he [Mr. Marcos] is saying that those who do business and have trade with China are also threats to the country,” Ms. Duterte said on Monday.
Over the weekend in Singapore, Mr. Marcos warned that allegations of Chinese entities funding a firm linked to Ms. Duterte would constitute a “threat at the highest level to the republic” if proven true.
Ms. Castro said commercial should remain distinct from the protection of sovereignty, amid long-standing territorial disputes between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, one of the region’s most persistent geopolitical flashpoints. Attention now turns to how Manila maintains that separation in practice as diplomatic and maritime discussions with Beijing continue.
Reporting by Erika Mae P. Sinaking; Source: BusinessWorld
