How China’s media ‘charm offensive’ seeks to shift Philippines’ perceptions

“Such actions are part of a broader strategy to reshape regional perceptions and advance China’s geopolitical interests by influencing how it is perceived in critical markets like the Philippines,” Dindo Manhit, president of the Stratbase ADR Institute think tank, told This Week in Asia.

“One could say that China has a marked uptick in interest in shaping narratives in the Philippines because of the Marcos administration’s willingness to start shopping around for other [economic] partners,” she said, adding the study built upon decades-long research concerning China’s rise and its development investments.