China Ties Offer Major Opportunities
August 2007 | Political OutlookSorry, you must be a subscriber to view this article in full. If you are a subscriber please login.
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The Philippines is one of the ASEAN countries China intends to strengthen relations with in order to secure access to natural resources and new markets, as well as to extend its political influence, and the Philippines will be only too glad for this to happen. China has become the Philippines' most important export market, and equally relies heavily upon China for many of its imports. As such, improving ties between the Philippines and China will serve the best interests of both nations. This year's Asian annual security summit, in the absence of the US, will afford China a great opportunity to forge closer ties with its regional counterparts.