By Marcus Suner

To jumpstart ties with China by discussing mutual agreements with the country in his term, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held his first state visit to the People’s Republic of China from January 3 to 5, 2023, at the capital of Beijing.

“As I leave for Beijing, I will be opening a new chapter in our comprehensive strategic cooperation with China,” Marcos stated.

The state visit aimed for an improvement in bilateral relations, citing cooperation in “agriculture, energy, infrastructure, science and technology, trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges, among others”. 

Political and security issues were also discussed, more specifically the recent maritime dispute between China and the Philippines that escalated in the contested West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea claimed in its entirety by the former.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, Chinese investors pledged over USD 22.8 billion in investments over the course of the state visit, in line with Marcos’ hopes that China would “continue to invest in the Philippines”. 

This includes agribusiness, renewable energy, and strategic monitoring such as electric vehicles and mineral processing in the country.

Xi also told Marcos that China is ready to resume joint explorations of oil and gas in the non-disputed areas of the South China Sea, cooperate in solar and wind energy projects, and increase imports of fishery products.

On top of this, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that some of the signed agreements and loans are to support the Marcos Jr. administration’s “Build Better More” infrastructure program, such as the framework for China’s financing for three priority Department of Public Works and Highways projects and four loans for priority bridge projects.

In line with the recent escalation of events, an arrangement for the establishment of a “communication mechanism” on maritime issues between the Department of Foreign Affairs of PH and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China was signed. This aims to “[establish] direct communication between the foreign ministr[ies] of both countr[ies] at various levels” in order to “avoid miscalculation and miscommunication in the West Philippine Sea”.

Former President Macapagal-Arroyo, known to have close ties with China even up to this day and called Xi’s “old friend”, was highlighted by Marcos as his “secret weapon” in his speech right before he departed for Beijing. 
This state visit was an echo from almost 50 years ago in 1974, when he first traveled under his father, late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. on a state visit to lay the foundation for the establishment of diplomatic relations between both parties.

Thumbnail from Office of the Press Secretary