ON May 14, Chinese President Xi Jinping and United States President Donald Trump met in Beijing in a summit that carries significant implications for Philippine foreign policy. Xi’s call for “constructive strategic stability” in US-China relations, paired with Trump’s optimism about future cooperation, underscores the continuing importance of cultivating good relations with both powers.
Manila must, therefore, balance its foreign policy to safeguard sovereignty and national interests. While improved US-China ties may ease regional tensions, they also risk sidelining Philippine priorities within the broader strategic calculations of the two rival powers.
Taiwan and the South China Sea
Xi’s warning on Taiwan underscores the profound sensitivity of the issue for China. Any instability in the Taiwan Strait would have direct implications for Philippine national interests, not only due to geographic proximity and alliance responsibilities, but also because of the welfare and security of overseas Filipino workers residing in Taiwan.
At the same time, Xi’s invocation of “manageable differences” reflects Beijing’s expectation that regional actors, including the Philippines, adopt more restrained positions in the South China Sea. For Manila, this presents a strategic dilemma: Moderating its stance could ease tensions with China, but risks undermining efforts to assert sovereignty and protect maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea.
A recalibration of policy would therefore require balancing diplomatic engagement with the imperative of safeguarding national interests, particularly in the face of growing regional competition and evolving alliance commitments.
