Authors: Joefe B. Santarita and Alfred Gerstl

How do the Philippines' infrastructure and connectivity cooperation with China, through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and with the European Union, through the Global Gateway Initiative (GGI), impact the country's economic, geopolitical, and public perceptions, and how do these interactions shape the Philippines' strategic foreign policy decisions?

The article explores the Philippines' infrastructure cooperation with China’s BRI and the EU’s GGI. Under President Duterte, the Philippines embraced China’s BRI for development, but under Marcos Jr., the focus has shifted towards balancing ties with the EU's GGI. Survey data reveal that while Filipinos acknowledge benefits from BRI projects, concerns about environmental impact and China’s geopolitical motives persist. The EU’s GGI is viewed favorably, but its impact remains smaller. The article concludes that the Philippines strategically uses both partnerships to advance economic growth while managing geopolitical risks.

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