Huang Rulun, a Chinese real estate developer who has played a visible role in the Duterte administration’s pivot to China, has been caught in a corruption probe by Chinese authorities.
The Financial Times highlighted the event this week, noting that Mr Huang’s depleted political capital in Beijing “casts a cloud over a renewed Sino-Philippine relationship.” But the degree to which this will have any impact on the burgeoning relationship is not clear.
A Philippine newspaper columnist said that “the honeymoon is still strong, one year on.” Explaining regarding connections to Mr Huang that “Mr Duterte still can do nothing to embarrass himself.”
Philippines will start to be better in dealing with corruption now that it has reduce ties with USA.