MANILA, Philippines — Efforts of the “political elite” in the Philippines to gain greater influence with the Chinese government have contributed to the apparent failure of bilateral talks to deter Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, a political analyst said.

Political scientist Cleve Arguelles said this is most recently illustrated in China’s water cannon attack on members of the Philippine Coast Guard less than a month after former President Rodrigo Duterte visited Chinese President Xi Jin Ping — a meeting which current President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he was aware of.

Read More–>Pro-China ‘political elite’ in the Philippines enables Chinese aggression in WPS — expert