As the United States strengthens its ties with the Philippines, particularly through gaining access to two new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in Cagayan province, China is actively courting Filipino elites to maintain influence. Notably, Manuel Mamba, governor of Cagayan, has visited China twice in the past 12 months. This engagement comes amidst broader regional dynamics where Southeast Asian states navigate rising US-China tensions. Some local leaders and a former Philippine president express concerns that stronger US ties may undermine relations with Beijing.
In the northern Philippines, near a military base the U.S. recently won access to that is crucial to any defense of Taiwan, Beijing has made inroads with key politicians, wooing them with VIP trips to the mainland. https://t.co/C4qiJpfWf4
China Woos Philippine Elites Near Base US Needs to Defend Taiwan https://t.co/QFLSTucSoM
In northern Philippines, near a military base the US recently won access to that is crucial to any defense of Taiwan, Beijing has made inroads with key politicians. Manuel Mamba, governor of Cagayan province, has traveled to China twice in the past 12 months and has 4 copies of… https://t.co/WN47OWZTaM
As relations between the United States and China have chilled and bilateral tensions have risen in the past four years over a variety of issues, Southeast Asian states have played a delicate game, writes @JoshKurlantzick. https://t.co/4eCs7LZnqc
Ties between Philippines and the US seem closer than ever, but some local leaders — and a former president — chafe at a relationship they say undercuts ties with China https://t.co/ZJlNolifn0
My latest story looks at how China is courting Filipino elites, even as Washington-Manila ties strengthen I spoke to Manuel Mamba, governor of Cagayan province, which hosts two of the new EDCA sites https://t.co/hAp6DmFMOf
Ties between Manila and Washington seem closer than ever, but some local leaders — and a former president — chafe at a relationship they say undercuts ties with Beijing My latest from a reporting trip to the Philippines: https://t.co/hAp6DmFMOf