As one of the oldest treaty allies of the United States and one of the parties to the dispute in the South China Sea, the Philippines plays a vital role in the foreign policy of both Beijing and Washington. Long-term American influence in the Philippines, starting from the colonial period, meant that most governments in Manila pursued a pro-American policy after the Philippines regained independence. With the assumption of the presidency by Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, there was a sharp turn towards Beijing at the expense of relations with Washington and the position of the Philippines in the South China Sea. The first year of the six-year presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the former dictator, is slowly coming to an end. Therefore it is worth asking the question, in what direction is the current foreign policy of the Philippines heading? Does Marcos Jr. follow his immediate predecessor's footsteps and his appeasement policy towards China, or is he closer to the pro-American president Benigno Aquino III?
