The UP Asian Center will host the online roundtable, “Navigating Partnerships: Lessons from 50 Years of Philippines-China Relations” on 22 September 2025, 2 PM (GMT+8), online via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public, but signing in to a (free) Zoom account is required.
ABOUT THE ONLINE ROUNDTABLE
The relationship between the Philippines and China spans centuries, shaped by long-standing trade, cultural exchange, and diplomatic encounters. Archaeological evidence points to sustained contact as early as the 9th century, with Chinese ceramics found in key pre-colonial trade centers. During the Spanish colonial period, Manila emerged as a vital entrepot for Chinese silk and goods, linking the Chinese mainland to global markets through the Manila-Acapuco galleon trade. These early exchanges laid the foundations for a complex relationship marked by both cooperation and strategic interest.
In the 20th century, shifting geopolitical landscapes, particularly during the Cold War, transformed the nature of China-Philippines relations. Following Philippine independence in 1946, Manila initially aligned with the United States and recognized the Republic of China (Taiwan). However, changes in the global order, including the People's Republic of China's entry into the United Nations in 1971 and the normalization of U.S.-China relations in 1972, prompted a recalibration of Philippine foreign policy. Formal diplomatic ties with the PRC were established in 1975. As the two nations mark the 50th anniversary of this milestone, their relationship continues to evolve amid emerging challenges and opportunities. This moment calls for a deeper understanding of the trajectory of China-Philippines relations, shaped by historical continuities and contemporary shifts.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
HON. JAIME A. FLORCRUZ
Philippine Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China
Ambassador Jaime A. FlorCruz is the Philippines’ Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of China since October 2022. He served as a Professorial Lecturer at the UP Asian Center where he teaches courses on China. He is a veteran journalist and one of the world’s most respected China watchers. A former student activist, Ambassador FlorCruz was forced to exile in China in 1971 during the Martial Law in the Philippines. He studied at Peking University with a degree in Chinese History and continued to live in the country as an intellectual with an expert and broad knowledge of China. His recent book The Class of ’77: How My Classmates Changed China was published in 2022.
AARON JED B. RABENA, Ph.D.
Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman
Dr. Aaron Jed B. Rabena is an Assistant Professor at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman. He earned his Ph.D. in International Relations from Shandong University in China in 2016, where he also completed his M.A. in International Relations in 2012. Dr. Rabena specializes in Strategic Studies, Greater East Asian Geopolitics and Multilateral Politics, Political Risk, and Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy. He has held Visiting Fellowships at the China Institute of International Studies, China Foreign Affairs University, and the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. Additionally, he is a Pacific Forum Young Leader and an alumnus of the East-West Center, the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program, and the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.
HUAIGAO QI, Ph.D.
Institute of International Studies, Fudan University
Dr. Huaigao Qi is Professor of International Relations and Vice Dean at the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University. He received a Ph.D. in World History from Wuhan University in June 2007. He was an Academic Visitor of St Antony’s Collegeat University of Oxford from October 2017 to September 2018, a Rajawali Fellow of Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government from January 2013 to December 2013, and a Post- Doctoral Fellow in Political Science at Fudan University’s School of International Relations and Public Affairs from July 2008 to September 2010. His research interests are China’s neighboring diplomacy, China’s ocean affairs, and Asia-Pacific international relations.
This activity is organized by the UP Asian Center.
For inquiries, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 891-8500 loc. 3586.
