Harmonious ties between Philippines and China would bode well for region

Presumptive Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte vows to do many things to transform the country.

Most hearteningly, he said recently that he wanted a good relationship with China, bearing in mind the territorial row in the South China Sea (“Duterte starts building bridges with China”; May 17).

Many people would surely wish him well here. A successful bilateral relationship would augur well for the entire region; failure could mean the region, and not only the Philippines, could be embroiled in a long conflict, which benefits no one.

The start is vital. If nothing momentous is achieved, there would soon come a time when everything becomes empty rhetoric.

Mr Duterte would become jaded in future attempts to make peace, and would instead replace them with words of war.

The world is already bogged down with countless problems. The sooner this row with China is resolved, the better.

Otherwise, it would make matters worse, especially with the United States getting into the picture.

There is no certainty the US will stay to see that everything ends well. This is even more so with the prospect of Mr Donald Trump becoming its President — I dare not imagine what he might do to safeguard the US’ interests.