Chinese ambassador to the Philippines says bilateral relations between the two countries “will only become stronger” under the next administration.
Relations between the Philippinesand China will become stronger under the Southeast Asiancountry's incoming president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, China'sambassador to Manila has said.
China was looking forward to working with the new governmentto upgrade cooperation, Ambassador Huang Xilian said in aFacebook post on Thursday.
Marcos, the son and namesake of a former ruler, won an election this week by a landslide, a victory that could reshape his country's ties with both China and the United States.
Marcos has long-standing ties with China and is seeking anew deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the contestedwaters of the South China Sea.
The Philippines is pivotal in the rivalry between the UnitedStates and China. Its maritime territory includes part of theSouth China Sea, a strategic and resource-rich waterway overwhich China also claims sovereignty.
'Initial challenges'
The Philippines is a long-standing treaty ally of the United States but the victory of Marcos is a potential blow to US efforts to push back against China.
The relationship Marcos has had with the United States has been complicated by a contempt-of-court order for his refusal to cooperate with the District Court of Hawaii, which in 1995 ordered the Marcos family to pay $2 billion of wealth to victims of Marcos Sr.'s rule.
Kurt Campbell, the White House coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, said on Wednesday the United States was seeking early engagement with the Marcos administration though he added that historical considerations meant there would probably be "some initial challenges".
US President Joe Biden called Marcos to congratulate him on his victory and said he looked forward to strengthening their alliance, the White House said.
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