Philippines, China sign 14 deals during Marcos visit

During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s state visit to China on January 4, the Philippines and China signed 14 bilateral agreements covering infrastructure, agriculture, trade, tourism, and other areas.

The agreements include two bridge projects in Manila funded by China, a joint action plan for agricultural cooperation, and several loan agreements for priority infrastructure projects.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno welcomed China’s support for the Philippines' 'Build Better More' infrastructure agenda, noting that these agreements demonstrate strong bilateral cooperation.

Some analysts are cautious about the implications of these deals given the ongoing sea dispute between the two countries and past failures to deliver on investment pledges.