Depth report

　　

The Philippines officially joined the China-led AIIB at the end of 2015 and signed the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Agreement at the final deadline of the AIIB, becoming the 57th and last founding member of the AIIB. As soon as the news came out, one stone stirred up waves.

　　The public opinion in the West, especially in the United States, Japan and other countries, is surprised by this. As early as last June, the Philippines attended the signing ceremony of the AIIB in Beijing, but finally gave up signing it. At that time, the relationship between China and the Philippines was tense due to the South China Sea issue. The Philippine alliance, the United States and Japan, did not join the AIIB. Therefore, the Philippine renounced the signing, which is expected, but obviously, this is a bad decision. In fact, the Philippine domestic infrastructure construction , There is an urgent need for financial support, and the AIIB will be a good source of funding. The Philippine domestic public opinion is quite critical about this, thinking that it is not wise for the authorities to give up joining the AIIB because of the South China Sea issue.

　　 Unexpectedly, at the last minute, the Philippines signed an agreement to formally become a member of the founding member of the AIIB, which is quite dramatic.

　　 Looking back, the dramatic changes that led to the Philippines’ joining the AIIB include at least the following points:

　　One: The Philippines was very clear from the beginning of the AIIB's significance in obtaining domestic infrastructure funds, but due to the faces of the United States and Japan, it had reservations. In addition, the Philippines also has expectations for the U.S. and Japan’s reciprocity, including the U.S. vowed to support each other on the South China Sea issue. However, when the United States made a false shot in the South China Sea, it was pushed back by China. With regard to the South China Sea issue, China has refused to give up and the United States has nothing to do. This reality has made the Philippines aware of the limitations and even decline of the United States’ influence in Asia. As an Asian country, the Philippines must seriously consider a series of post-American military and diplomatic policies to ensure the country’s prosperity and development.

　　Second: By choosing to join the AIIB at the last minute, the Philippines has grasped the timing very accurately. Joining the AIIB is definitely not a whim of the Philippines, but a state behavior after careful consideration. However, the two traditional alliance countries of the Philippines, the United States and Japan, have resisted the AIIB. Of course, they would not be happy to see the Philippines join. They even used incentives and pressure to prevent the Philippines from joining. The purpose was nothing more than to give China. Add blockage. Of course, it is regrettable that the AIIB lacked the Philippines, but it did not undermine the meaning of the AIIB. However, the meaning of the AIIB is different for the Philippines. Rejecting the AIIB means that the Philippines will lose an opportunity that has been difficult for a long time. It may marginalize its position in Asia, which is a double loss of economy and diplomacy. However, if the Philippines signs the AIIB agreement early, the benefits from the United States and Japan will not be reaped, and it may have to withstand pressure from the two major powers; and when the agreement is signed at the last minute, everything will be settled. At the last moment when the door of the AIIB was closed, the Philippines made a leap forward, leaving the world with a look of surprise.

　　 Third: The Philippine government has seen a lot of ideas on the issue of signing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank agreement, which is worth learning from later generations. Next year is the year of elections in the Philippines. As a minority ethnic Chinese in the Philippines, of course, they are happy to see a presidential successor who is friendly to China and treats the Chinese people well. However, one fact that cannot be ignored is that the Philippines is a traditional pro-American country. From political decision-making to minor details of life, the United States and the United States have ubiquitous influence on the Philippines. I believe that such national conditions cannot be changed in a short period of time. Therefore, the future leaders of the Philippines need superb art of diplomatic balance, able to rigorously handle the Philippine-US and Philippine-China relations, and achieving a diplomatic balance between the two major powers is by no means easy. This time the Philippines joined the AIIB. The Philippine government did nothing but clarified its intentions until the last moment. It was really clever to achieve its goals and get rid of US manipulation.

　　The successful joining of the Philippine Libin in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank highlights the pragmatic side of the Philippine Libin's diplomacy. With the Philippines becoming a founding member of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, China and the Philippines have another channel of communication, and the relationship between the two countries is bound to usher in new opportunities for development.