Opportunities and Challenges in China’s Economic and Political Development Under the Third Term of Xi Jinping’s Leadership: Deteriorating Trust Between China and the Philippines

Although bilateral relations improved during Duterte’s presidency, tensions reemerged under the presidency of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The perception and response of the Philippines to China’s actions, especially under Xi Jinping’s leadership and amid China’s development, are central to this article. President Marcos Jr. initially attempted to maintain amicable relations with China, recognizing the considerable opportunities that China’s vast market and economic strength offered for the economic development of the Philippines. However, confronted with China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea, President Marcos Jr. diverged from the approach of his predecessor, President Duterte. Instead, he proactively and assertively responded to China, which led to a deadlock in the bilateral relationship. Recognizing the power disparity between the Philippines and China, President Marcos Jr. actively sought security and military cooperation with the United States. Despite China’s efforts to establish an image as a responsible great power and its ambition to promote shared prosperity and development with neighboring countries through economic assistance under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, these aspirations are contradicted by its assertive behavior on sovereignty disputes. This contradiction compels the Philippines to strategically balance China’s influence by engaging in security and military cooperation with the United States in response to China’s assertiveness. This scenario poses challenges for China in balancing its assertive stance with its aspiration to be perceived as a peaceful, friendly, and responsible great power. Consequently, the aforementioned dynamic poses a setback for President Xi Jinping’s vision of achieving the Chinese Dream.