ABSTRACT
Filipino perceptions of China have remained largely negative during the Duterte and early Marcos Jr. presidencies, despite China's increased public diplomacy efforts in the Philippines. Using the framework of intentionality, intermediaries, and institutions, this chapter examines the limits of Chinese public diplomacy during the Duterte era. Beijing intensified its economic influence and public diplomacy through Chinese investors, state-owned enterprises, and cultural agencies, which were welcomed by the Philippine government. However, unintended consequences, such as Chinese intrusion in the West Philippine Sea and the rise of China-based offshore gaming, fueled Filipino nationalist backlash. These “influence externalities” reinforced perceptions of China as untrustworthy and threatening, highlighting the uneven nature of Chinese influence in the Philippines despite its growing regional power.
