Duterte allies seek to emulate Chinese Communist Party programs
In a sign of China鈥檚 growing influence in the Philippines, President Rodrigo R. Duterte鈥檚 political party is holding a two-day summit in Manila to develop policies that imitate the Communist Party鈥檚 anti-poverty programs.
Duterte鈥檚 ruling PDP-Laban party wants to follow China鈥檚 Communist Party in boosting opportunities in the countryside and assessing leaders based on the number of people they lift out of poverty, Philippine House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who serves as the party鈥檚 secretary-general, said in a speech Tuesday night. Two officials from China鈥檚 Communist Party briefed Philippine officials on President Xi Jinping鈥檚 programs on Feb. 27.
鈥淟et us be thankful that the Communist Party of China is here with us,鈥 Alvarez said.
Soon after Duterte took office in June 2016, the Philippine leader announced a separation with the U.S. and embraced closer ties with China and Russia. He has since downplayed his nation鈥檚 legal victory over Beijing in a South China Sea territorial dispute, while China has responded with $24 billion worth of funding and investment pledges.
If China wants, it can just add Philippines as one of its provinces 鈥渓ike Fujian,鈥 Duterte said on Feb. 19 to an audience of Filipino-Chinese businessmen. 鈥淧rovince of Philippines, Republic of China,鈥 Duterte added before an applauding crowd.
Disputed Territory
Duterte鈥檚 spokesman Harry Roque said the remarks were made in jest, and that the Philippines stands by its rights to disputed features in the South China Sea.
Xi assured Duterte that China won鈥檛 build anything on the Scarborough Shoal, which has been a flash point between the two countries. Still, China had completed an air and naval base on the disputed Fiery Cross Reef, according to photos published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
In other indicators of China鈥檚 burgeoning presence in the Southeast Asian nation, Philippine state television last year began rebroadcasting programs from China Global Television Network. Immigration officials are also being trained to speak Mandarin since China became the country鈥檚 second highest source of tourists last year, eclipsing the US and Japan. — Bloomberg
