Can China and the Philippines mend their strained ties?

 

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is in China for his first overseas trip as leader.

The Philippines and China have had a strained relationship in recent years – the next stage of which both sides are looking to shape during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s visit to Beijing.

Manila has historically been a close ally of the United States, but that relationship cooled somewhat under last Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who forged closer ties with Beijing.