SUMMARY

From a promise to ride a jetski to the West Philippine Sea that turned into policies that bended to Beijing’s will, then a vow to be a “friend to all” that turned into a declaration that “Filipinos do not yield,” the Philippines has seen dramatic shifts in its policy and approach to handling our superpower neighbor China. 

Manila’s new-found vigor in the West Philippine Sea, at least initially, seemed to perplex Beijing. Former president Rodrigo Duterte, after all, promised a “pivot” to China. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. now promises to work with China when interests align, but to “push back…[if] jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea are questioned or ignored.” 

Beijing’s own push back – amid the Philippine government’s “transparency initiative” in the West Philippine Sea…

Source:https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/explainers/agreements-disagreements-west-sea/