A FOREIGN policy and international relations expert lauded the efforts of the Marcos administration to reset relations with China, saying the Philippines can protect its territorial interests while keeping economic ties and diplomatic channels with Beijing open.
“I think China is more of an economic partner than a security partner,” said Prof. Enrico Gloria, an assistant professor of international relations at the University of the Philippines Diliman's Department of Political Science and a scholar of Chinese foreign policy and Philippine-China relations, during a forum organized by the Manila-based Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute on Friday.
Gloria said that Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea are legitimate but rejected an either-or approach that treats China solely as a security threat while overlooking the economic and diplomatic dimensions of the relationship.
“I think that's a false thinking, and that's not very helpful if the goal is to cultivate mutual trust between the two countries,” Gloria said.
Gloria said Philippine-China relations have historically involved the pursuit of common interests, particularly in the economic sphere, and pointed to the longstanding presence of the Chinese diaspora in the Philippines as part of that history.
At the same time, he said China is a challenge to Philippine territorial rights and interests, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.
He noted that China is not the only country with which the Philippines has competing territorial interests, citing Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries.
Gloria said he viewed the Marcos administration's China reset positively because it demonstrates Manila's commitment to maintaining negotiations and direct communication with Beijing.
He said tensions at sea are likely to continue because of strong public pressure in both countries to defend their respective positions.
“In the Philippines, the clamor for the government to do something in the West Philippine Sea is really high and is really strong,” Gloria said, adding that there is similar pressure in China to respond to Philippine assertions.
Despite these tensions, Gloria said it was significant that Manila and Beijing continued to communicate directly and seek ways to manage maritime incidents.
He said sustained dialogue could allow the two countries to find “creative ways” to manage tensions at sea and develop a common understanding on how to navigate their maritime disputes and broader bilateral relationship.
“The Philippines really cannot live with an angry China in its backyard,” Gloria said.
He added that the reset also recognizes China's continuing importance to the Philippines' economic and development prospects despite their competing interests.
Gloria acknowledged that the Philippines' previous transparency-oriented approach to the West Philippine Sea helped Manila gain support from allies and strengthen partnerships with like-minded countries.
However, he questioned whether the Philippines could have secured similar support through more diplomatic approaches.
He said the experience provides an opportunity for Manila to recalibrate its strategy toward Beijing.
For Gloria, a reset should not mean abandoning Philippine territorial claims or weakening the country's position on sovereignty.
Instead, he advocated an approach that combines the defense of Philippine interests with continued diplomacy, economic engagement and efforts to manage tensions with China.
He said this would allow Manila to deal with Beijing based on the full range of Philippine interests rather than viewing the relationship solely through the lens of the West Philippine Sea dispute.
