June 25, 2024

After a Philippines official who chairs the national maritime council said the confrontation between the Philippines and China at China's Ren'ai Jiao "was probably a misunderstanding or an accident," the country's Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro accused China of an aggressive act and illegal use of force on Monday. Some Chinese experts said this reflected the internal confusion within the Philippines regarding its policies or specific methods for handling maritime issues.

Meanwhile, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo told a Senate inquiry on Tuesday that "the Philippines is working hard to bring China back to the table for talks to resolve differences in the South China Sea." 

This "good cop, bad cop" approach by the Philippine government actually reflects the internal conflicts among various departments, some experts believe. The latest statement from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also indicates his very limited ability to control various departments, institutions and political forces, they noted. 

Read more:

https://enapp.globaltimes.cn/article/1314818