Illustration: Chen Xia/GT
Editor’s Note:The South China Sea issue is one of the most important topics in China-Philippines relations, but there is always noise when the two countries are working to meet each other halfway on the issue. When some manageable frictions took place between the two countries recently, Western media didn’t miss the opportunity to hype the issue up. As elections approach in the Philippines, are there any connections between the recent frictions and the upcoming elections? Will the current China policy continue in the Philippines after next year’s elections? How will Manila deal with Washington’s wooing and pressure? Philippine scholar Herman Tiu Laurel (Laurel), a columnist of the Filipino newspaper Pwersa, shared his views with the Global Times (GT) via email.
GT: There have recently been frictions between China and the Philippines near the Ren’ai Jiao, or Ayungin shoal as it is called by Manila. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his…