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China and Philippines taking ‘baby steps’ towards better relations: Manila’s ambassador

The Philippines is trying to gradually establish “stable foundations” for its relations with China before tackling tougher problems such as the long-running South China Sea…

By Samantha Johnson / April 21, 2026
The Philippines is trying to gradually establish “stable foundations” for its relations with China before tackling tougher problems such as the long-running South China Sea dispute, according to the country’s ambassador to Beijing.

“We need a new equilibrium in our relations with China. Both sides [have agreed] to take incremental or baby steps towards that,” Jaime FlorCruz told the South China Morning Post.

“That means a relationship that is stable, that is predictable, that is not subject to jerks [and] ups and downs … We’re trying to manage our differences while at the same time searching for convergence of interests.”

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His comments, coming weeks after President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said he was resetting his country’s ties with Beijing, may be another sign of a sharp recalibration of Philippine foreign policy in the face of geopolitical shocks such as the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Tensions between Beijing and Manila have risen under Marcos, with repeated clashes around disputed islets in the South China Sea.

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Beijing claims sovereignty over almost all the islands and features in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters.

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