Philippines-China Relations at 50: Questions, Answers and Ways Forward

Philippines-China Relations at 50: Questions, Answers and Ways Forward

Philippines–China Relations at 50: Questions, Answers, and Ways Forward organized by the Chinese Studies Program, Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies, Ricardo Leong Institute for Global and Area Studies, and the Department of Development Studies of the Dr. Rosita G. Leong School of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University.

ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM:

The relation with China is one of the most important and challenging bilateral ties for the Philippines. Official diplomatic relations were established in 1975, but people-to-people bonds have a long history. China is the country’s biggest trade partner, but a simmering sea spat has long clouded connections between the two neighbors.

The earliest recorded barter dates back to the 9th century. Sulu Sultan Paduka Pahala visited the Ming Dynasty Emperor Yongle in 1417 and died on his way home. A royal tomb was built for him in Dezhou, Shandong, and still stands to this day. Manila is home to the world’s oldest Chinatown. From 1565 to 1815, Manila served as a global entrepôt, linking China, the New World, and Europe via ocean-going galleons. Chinese immigrants and their descendants left a lasting legacy in the country’s history, culture, cuisine, and commerce. Chinese-Filipinos have become an integral part of the national society. Beyond business, their contributions manifest in governance, professions, civil society, and philanthropy.

Fast forward to contemporary times, China has become the country’s largest export market for commodities, ranging from fruits to mineral ores, and is also its largest source of imports. China is also a major investor in the country’s infrastructure, utilities, steel, telecommunications, renewables, and property sectors, among others. China financed the construction of the Angat Dam aqueduct in 2012, the Chico River Pump Irrigation project, which opened in 2022, and is currently building the Kaliwa Dam, scheduled for completion next year. China also donated two bridges that span the Pasig River. Chinese technologies, ranging from solar panels and wind farms to critical mineral processing and electric vehicles, can accelerate the country’s transition to sustainable energy and transportation.

However, security issues hound the relations. More untoward incidents in their longstanding territorial and maritime row mar ties. Claims of espionage, political interference, and influence operations add further strain. Chinese investment in strategic sectors comes under increasing security scrutiny. Concerns about economic statecraft or vulnerability due to high economic exposure to China led to security audits and market diversification. Escalating great power competition is also putting Manila in a bind, as Beijing and Washington clash over trade, technology, and flashpoints such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

This Symposium will explore different facets of bilateral relations. Can the compartmentalization of ties be sustained - expanding economic interaction, while managing differences? Will deeper economic entanglement with China create more sturdy guardrails or present more risks? Does the experience and approach of its fellow ASEAN coastal neighbors offer lessons for the Philippines? As China and America lock horns, how can the country best exercise its agency to defend and promote its national interests without getting sucked into great power games?

Ateneo de Manila University gathers its faculty to unpack the length and breadth of Philippines-China relations – its historical, cultural, economic, and security dimensions- to take stock of the past, interrogate the present, and probe the future.

REGISTRATION:

go.ateneo.edu/PCHN-Symposium