Chinese firm offers to build artificial islands
Ties between China and the Philippines have improved after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's four-day visit to China, with a Chinese company offering to help the Philippines build artificial islands in the South China Sea despite their once tangled maritime disputes.
Experts said that in light of the Philippines' need for economic development, bilateral ties would not change or be affected by Duterte's remarks during his Japan visit.
In talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, Duterte said that his visit to China last week was about economics, not security, and vowed to stand on Tokyo's side over the South China Sea disputes when the time comes, Reuters reported.
Describing Japan as a "special friend who is closer than a brother," Duterte said after the meeting that Manila would work closely with Japan on regional issues of common concern and uphold the values of democracy, adhere to the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes, including those in the South China Sea.
"Durerte has undoubtedly been sending positive signals to improve Sino-Philippine relations and ease tensions in the South China Sea. His talks in Japan shows he's trying to seek a balance between China and Japan, but has not changed his stance," Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times.
Abe said on Wednesday that he welcomes Duterte's recent efforts to improve ties with China, stressing that the South China Sea disputes affect peace in the entire region, the Associated Press reported.
Chen said that Japan has always been trying to contain China by drawing the Philippines to his side and enhance its presence in the South China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at Monday's press conference that relevant issues between China and the Philippines will be properly settled as long as the two sides are willing to move forward, in response to whether Philippine fishermen would soon be allowed to fish in Huangyan Island.
Philippine fishermen have been fishing in waters near the Huangyan Island, and the dispute revolves around Filipino fisherman's right to fish in the island lagoon, which China considers an infringement on its territory, said Chen.
The Dredging Group of the China Communications Construction Company, a State-owned infrastructure group, also signed a deal with a Philippine company to conduct a 208-hectare land reclamation project in the Davao harbor.
"The project will cover 208 hectares along the 8-kilometer Davao coastline, and four islands will be built for business, government offices, residences and ports. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2019," Wu Zhenhua, a manager of the International Business Division of the CCCC Dredging Group, told the Global Times.
Bloomberg reported that Duterte brought home $24 billion in funds and investment pledges from his four-day visit to China. China also would provide $9 billion in soft loans, including a $3 billion credit line from the Bank of China.
Japan is closer than a brother: Duterte
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Manila would work closely with Japan on regional issues of common concern and uphold democratic values, adhere to the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes, including those in the South China Sea.
Duterte described Japan as a "special friend who is closer than a brother."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday that he welcomes Duterte's recent efforts to improve ties with China, stressing that the South China Sea disputes affect regional peace.
Philippine officials also sought more Japanese investments on Wednesday in such areas as manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture and energy.
At the Philippine Economic Forum organized by the Japan External Trade Organization, Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez invited Japanese investments in information technology and business processing, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Charito Plaza, director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, said Manila will "explore new types of economic zones."
