Philippines’ Marcos Puts China at Center of Poll Campaign

Despite two decades of commitments, the South China Sea remains a diplomatic riptide. Last week's latest ASEAN–China talks in Manila sought to advance a long-stalled Code of Conduct, but there was no progress.
File image of Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. who highlighted the threat China posed to Philippines' territorial claims in the South China Sea in the ongoing midterms election campaign. TED ALJIBE / AFP

By Pam Castro

President Ferdinand Marcos put Beijing firmly center stage on the campaign trail on Saturday, saying his predecessor’s administration was all too happy for the Philippines “to be a province of China.”

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