For Beijing, managing ties with Manila is therefore not just about bilateral relations, but about shaping the broader strategic landscape in Southeast Asia, said Ian Seow, a senior analyst in the China Programme at RSIS. That calculus extends to ongoing negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea, said Seow, adding that the code’s value lies less in resolving tensions than in its signalling function. “For China, it uses the COC negotiations to demonstrate that it is a responsible great power … thereby helping to deflect criticisms of its assertiveness,” he said, noting that the talks allow Beijing to signal its willingness to engage ASEAN states through dialogue on managing disputes, even as tensions persist. At the same time, the process provides ASEAN states, including the Philippines, with a platform to engage Beijing diplomatically and manage tensions even as disputes continue, he added. THE US FACTOR The role of Washington remains central to how China and the Philippines are calibrating their moves, said analysts. Uncertainty surrounding US policy under President Donald …