In a Jan. 4 editorial headlined “Marcos’ Visit Makes China-Philippines ‘Tension’ Collapse on Itself,” Global Times wrote that the three-day visit to China by Filipino President Marcos on Jan. 3-5, means that “the so-called tension between China and the Philippines, created by Western public opinion not long ago, collapsed on itself. The hype without a factual basis eventually failed to take root.”
The two countries will sign more than 10 bilateral agreements, including advancing on the possibility of oil and gas cooperation in the South China Sea.
“This reflects two themes,” the editorial explained. “First, mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between China and the Philippines will be continuously promoted, which is the locomotive and engine leading the development of bilateral relations. Second, divergences in the South China Sea will be managed and controlled, and will be prevented to become a stumbling block of pragmatic cooperation, or a fuse of a crisis that could undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
