China offers Philippines 'win-win' path against US 'protectionism'

ANKARA: China has offered its longtime rival the Philippines a "win-win" path to counter looming economic fallout from United States (US) President Donald Trump's imposition of trade tariffs, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported, citing local media Thursday.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, presented "deeper integration" as an alternative vision to contain US "protectionism," which will be a "win-win path forward in an increasingly fragmented world," the Manila Times reported.

He warned that the US's shift toward protectionism could trigger a "ripple crisis" in the Philippine economy, which is already reeling from global supply chain disruptions.

"The trade war has no winners. And the US, once a champion of globalisation, is now dismantling the very rules it helped establish," Huang told reporters Wednesday in Makati City.

He reiterated China's steadfast support for multilateralism and open trade, pointing to the China-ASEAN partnership as a model of resilience, strengthened by shared principles and integrated economic frameworks.

"Protectionism doesn't build sovereignty--it weakens it. Trade wars only lead to mutual harm," Huang was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

He appealed to Philippine policymakers to adopt an independent, multilateralist stance amid intensifying global power rivalries.

"The international community needs solidarity now more than ever. We must oppose all forms of protectionism and work together for a fair, rules-based global economy," he added.

-- BERNAMA