Debut of Philippines-China centre raises questions about Beijing's influence

Opening of centre in Manila comes just as public trust of China hits record lows

- Mara Cepeda Philippines Correspondent

Philippines-China Studies Center director Rommel Banlaoi (fourth from left) and Diliman College president Nikki Coseteng (fifth from left) at the opening of the centre on Nov 18. Dr Banlaoi says the centre aims to address Filipinos "trust deficit" with regard to China and rebuild relations between the two nations. PHOTO: PHILIPPINES-CHINA STUDIES CENTER, DILIMAN COLLEGE

Red and gold lanterns swayed above the narrow corridors of Diliman College in Quezon City, Metro Manila, where paper dragons snaked across the walls, and a papier-mache woman in traditional Filipino attire stood nearby.

For a moment, the modest community college felt like a mini-Chinatown as Chinese diplomats, Chinese-Filipino businessmen and Filipino scholars made their way through the decorated halls after the launching ceremony of the Philippines-China Studies Center on the college premises on Nov 18.

The opening of the centre raises fresh questions about Beijing's influence networks in the Philippines, just as public trust of China hits record lows, said analysts.

Centre director, Filipino political analyst and international studies expert Rommel Banlaoi, told The Straits Times that it aims to address Filipinos' “trust deficit” with regard to China and to rebuild relations between the two nations engaged in what may be the most volatile period of maritime friction over the South China Sea in years.

The centre hopes “to overcome the extent of Filipino public ignorance” and generate “real empirical knowledge essential to promote mutual understanding”, he said.

“There’s more to Philippines-China relations than the disputes in the West Philippine Sea, and there are aspects of this relationship that we need to treasure,” said Dr Banlaoi, 55, a Chinese-educated security scholar.