The Covid-19 pandemic provided opportunities for the Philippines and China to strengthen bilateral ties despite China’s low popularity ratings in the Philippines compared with the United States and Japan. In fact, China’s low popularity in the Philippines, notwithstanding Beijing’s efforts to deepen friendship with Manila, is posing a challenge in Philippines-China relations. Opposition forces in the Philippines even doubted China’s sincerity in helping the Philippines in the time of Covid-19 pandemic because of China’s continuing activities in the South China Sea. On the one hand, there is cooperation in Philippines-China relations to overcome the scourge of Covid-19. Rommel C. Banlaoi, PhD, is the president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies (PACS) and a member of the management board of the World Association for Chinese Studies (WACS).

Source: Manila Times May 02, 2020 17:03 UTC