Xi Jinping sealed a raft of deals Tuesday during a trip to Manila as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's administration shrugs off U.S. warnings about accepting Chinese cash.
Xi's two-day trip marks the first state visit to the Philippines by a Chinese president in 13 years. The visit reflects warmer ties that began when Duterte took office and pivoted toward China and away from the U.S., a long-standing defense ally.
Among the 29 deals signed by the Philippines and China was a framework agreement that sets the stage for their joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea — an issue that roiled ties between Beijing and Duterte's predecessor — according to televised proceedings of the visit. The announcements build on $24 billion in investment pledges made two years ago when Duterte visited Beijing.
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