"Failed Sangley airport deal unhinges China’s ambitions?" 6 February 2021

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian may have downplayed the recent cancellation of talks between Cavite and a Beijing-backed consortium and its Filipino partner for a new international gateway on Manila Bay, but the developments could as well impact China’s ambitions in the region.

Huang said the project was “not relevant” to the Chinese government’s expansive Belt and Road Initiative, noting the cancellation pertained only to the feasibility study for the planned P500-billion Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) project.

But the SPIA auction documents, which included the draft joint venture agreement and request for proposals that were provided to interested bidders in late 2019 and reviewed by the Inquirer, showed otherwise.

[...] They represent the Chinese government’s first official statements since Cavite, which is implementing the mega project, canceled on Jan. 26 the award granted to state-run China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC) and taipan Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. for the first phase of the SPIA.

Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla had said that even with several extensions granted, the venture failed to correct documentary defects in their submissions. Remulla said they planned to rebid and award the project before the October 2021 deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy.

During the interview, Huang maintained the joint venture with the Cavite government was a “pure commercial project and not related to the Central Government of the Philippines or the Chinese Government.”

He said the project was also “not relevant to the Belt and Road Initiative or any third party.” [...]