You are behind the times.
Marcos was doing the popular thing in those post Nixon goes to China days. Everyone was going to China back then, after it broke up with the USSR. I recall the trade fairs, and etc.
The last bit is the latest US-Philippines treaty. The US now has basing rights everywhere in the Philippines. This is oriented to combat basing. The Philippines is also now a bad place for USN and USAF rear area basing, such as shipyards (Subic). Its too close to China, given modern weapons. The Philippines will be a place to fight from, not support from.
Duterte tried to make nice with the Chinese but they double-crossed him. This was against the advice of the Philippine military and economic establishment. They were right. Duterte is now trying to distance himself from that episode. In any case, he is no longer in charge.
I like how he dealt with the drug dealers.
*Duterte tried to make nice with the Chinese but they double-crossed him. This was against the advice of the Philippine military and economic establishment.*
1) Making nice was stupid. Double crossed-That’s naive, something no head of state has any business being.
2) Philippine military/economic establishment.
Both are corrupt and not worth fighting for. I read it in Robert Kaplan’s “Imperial Grunts”. NCO’s, the backbone of any military, realize their officers are corrupt like the politicians. No commitment to the cause.