Manila-Based Chinese Journalist Explains What’s Propelling the Feud With the Philippines

HEADLINE TRANSLATION: If the Philippines and China stir up trouble in the South China Sea, it will play into the hands of the United States.

China’s English-language media framing of the South China Sea confrontation with the Philippines is often very reductive and relies on old tropes that Manila is only confronting China as part of some kind of U.S. conspiracy.

The Philippines, in the view of outlets like Xinhua and China Daily, is acting as a proxy for the U.S. effort to contain China. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. lacks agency of his own to act in what he feels is Manila’s strategic interest, according to these simplistic Chinese narratives.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

You Might Like

China is the Victim of Philippine Aggression in the South China Sea, According to Chinese Media

The Chinese media’s framing of Tuesday’s collision between two Chinese and Filipino Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea comprised two main themes: The Philippine vessels illegally entered a restricted ...

China Coast Guard: Philippines Hyping South China Sea Issue at the Behest of Its “American Father”

The China Coast Guard (CCG) published its side of the story in a post on WeChat on Sunday that blasted the Philippines for unnecessarily “hyping” what happened. It appears the tactic of the Philippine ...

How Chinese Maritime Forces Tried to Blockade a Philippines Re-Supply Mission in the South China Sea

In this image taken by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), seven Chinese vessels, including unmarked “maritime militia” ships, surrounded a pair of PCG ships during a re-supply mission on Friday.

China May Deploy Navy in Spats With Philippines in South China Sea, Chinese Analysts Say

Weeks of steadily escalating confrontations between the coast guards of China and the Philippines in the South China Sea culminated on Tuesday with Chinese analysts saying Beijing may deploy navy ships in future ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP