US-China rivalry in the South China Sea has the Philippines at its core, observers say

News Snapshot:

Beijing and Washington know the value of Manila’s and its mercurial leader Rodrigo Duterte’s support, and they are willing to pay handsomely to get it Despite the Philippines pivoting closer to China in recent years, its ties with long-standing ally America on security issues remain ‘resilient’, says analyst Richard Heydarian Beijing and Washington know the value of Manila’s and its mercurial leader Rodrigo Duterte’s support, and they are willing to pay handsomely to get it. The United States and China have stepped up their efforts to win the affections of the Philippines of late as the two powers remain locked...