MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. placed China at the center of his campaign rhetoric on February 15, accusing his predecessor’s administration of being too willing to let the Philippines become “a province of China.”
Speaking in Mindanao, a stronghold of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos criticized Duterte’s policies—including his controversial drug war and alleged COVID-19-related fraud—without directly naming him. However, his sharpest remarks focused on the country’s increasingly tense relationship with Beijing.
“You will choose if we will go back to the time when our leaders wanted the Philippines to be a province of China,” Marcos told supporters in Davao del Norte. “None of our candidates are Chinese lackeys who cheered while our Coast Guard was being water-cannoned by big Chinese ships.”
Tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated over repeated confrontations in the South China Sea, where Beijing claims territory despite an international ruling rejecting its claims. Marcos also took aim at offshore gambling operations run by Chinese nationals, saying, “I hope we won’t go back to the past, when our leaders were pimping our country as a gambling center for foreigners.”
Political analysts believe Marcos is making China a key election issue to galvanize voters. Professor Dennis Coronacion of the University of Santo Tomas noted, “In the past, foreign policy and China were never major election issues. If they become one, Marcos could gain significant support.”
University of the Philippines political science professor Jean Franco echoed this view, emphasizing that Marcos’ stance highlights a stark contrast with Duterte’s more conciliatory approach to Beijing. “This is an issue of sovereignty, and Marcos is banking on the fact that South China Sea clashes dominate media coverage,” she said.
The mid-term elections could shape the future of Vice President Sara Duterte, who has publicly feuded with Marcos and is now facing a Senate trial on charges of constitutional violations, corruption, and other high crimes. If convicted, she could be barred from holding public office.
With half of the Senate’s 24 seats up for grabs in May, the election results could be critical in determining her political fate and the broader direction of Philippine foreign policy.