China should increase its economic cooperation with the Philippines to make up for what the US lacks in terms of bilateral ties with the country as the Marcos administration started shifting its foreign policy toward the Western giant, an analyst said Wednesday.
Professor Bobby Tuazon, Director for Policy Studies of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance, said China must conduct more economic cooperation with the country, "considering that the US has nothing to offer" with regard to that.
Although during State Secretary Antony Blinken's visit to the Philippines as well as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s meeting with US President Joe Biden, the two governments agreed to strengthen their ties not only in renewable energy and the military but also in trade and commerce.
As Marcos showed a friendlier approach to the US compared to his predecessor and beefed up its military cooperation with the West, Tuazon believed China already expected that.
"But of course, they will pursue every tight rope with regard to how they will be able to relate with the Bongbong Marcos administration," the analyst said at Wednesday's Pandesal Forum.
This October, China's national congress will convene.
Although it will not be affected by the country's friendlier approach towards the US, Tuazon believed the Asian giant is already "alerted."
"Definitely, they are alerted to the fact with regard to the repivot to the US, coming from the mouth and military actions of the Marcos government," he said.