
In US Lockstep, Philippines 'De-Risking' From China
The Ferdinand Marcos Jr administration is quietly yet proactively“de-risking” relations with China in line with US-led decoupling and in apparent anticipation of a future conflict with the Asian superpower.
On one hand, Philippine intelligence services are tracking and countering China's alleged espionage and malign influence operations in the country. On another, Manila is seeking to reduce its dependence on Chinese mining investments and present itself as an alternative supplier of precious metals to the West, including for the EV battery sector.
Efforts at countering malign Chinese influence went into hyperdrive mode following the expose of former Bamban mayor Alice Guo , a Chinese national who infiltrated the Philippine political elite and established a thriving business relationship with suspected Chinese criminal groups.
In the latest attempt to track down the controversial former mayor, who is now at large, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed a tax evasion complaint against her and several key accomplices, including Jack Uy, a businessman who purchased Guo's Baofu Land Development Incorporated shares, and Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon, Baofu's corporate secretary.
Philippine officials are also investigating whether the fugitive ex-mayor was involved in espionage activities since a Chinese online casino under her supervision was allegedly behind the cyber-sabotage of government websites in addition to alleged torture and kidnapping of foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, Filipino intelligence services have been tracking less known but more high-value targets who have allegedly been directly involved in malign influence operations in the Southeast Asian nation.
At the center of new investigations is Zhang“Steve” Song, Manila's bureau chief of the Shanghai Wenhui Daily, who previously served in a similar capacity in Washington DC.
The Wenhui Daily or Wenhui Bao is owned by the Shanghai United Media Group, a company overseen by the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) committee in the mega-city.

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