Thesis Title: THE INFLUENCE OF CHINA ON PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY: THE CASE OF

DUTERTE’S INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICY

Author Mr. Nathan Daniel Velasquez Sison

Degree: Master of Arts in Asia-Pacific Studies Thammasat University, College of Interdisciplinary
Studies

ABSTRACT

Since the start of his administration, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has pursued a foreign policy
which has been in contrast with the containment policy of China adopted by his predecessor.
Duterte immediately pushed forward for an independent foreign policy which emphasized that
his country would seek closer relations with China and Russia as it distanced itself from its
traditional U.S. ally. Duterte’s policy shift has been labeled as a “Pivot to China.” It explicitly
demonstrates a change in the previous pattern of the Philippine’s strategic diplomacy, aiming to
diversify options and improve relations with other countries, even those previously deemed as
hostile to Manila’s geopolitical interests. However, Duterte’s desire to move closer with China
while downplaying the South China Sea dispute precipitated disapproval from his critics and was
immediately dubbed as a “national tragedy” by former Philippine foreign secretary Albert del
Rosario.

This assessment will identify and analyze the reasons behind Duterte’s shift in foreign policy by
looking at China as the main factor. It employs Gideon Rose’s neoclassical realist theory as a lens
of foreign policy analysis. With that, this study offers an explanation of the action pursued by the
new administration by examining Duterte’s efforts to revitalize Sino-Philippine relations.
Moreover, this research delves into the perceptions of the Philippine foreign policy decision-
makers, and particularly those of President Duterte towards China’s intentions . It is argued here
that China’s support for and compatibility to Duterte’s national priorities feed into Duterte’s
perception of perceiving China as the best partner for its government development programs
among the different state actors in the international system, thus explaining the shift in Philippine
foreign policy.

Keywords: foreign policy, Duterte, China, neo-classical realism, South China Sea