As in the book вЂњThe Manchurian CandidateвЂќ and its subsequent movies, this particular political figure is envisaged to become ChinaвЂ™s head of state-agent in MalacaГ±ang. The Manchurian candidateвЂ™s external outlook and agenda will be to align Manila with BeijingвЂ™s foreign policy line. As such, these two world powers intend to effectively sway the next MalacaГ±ang regime into supporting and upholding their central foreign policy goals and objectives. This includes shaping the electorateвЂ™s basic viewpoint and attitude for either foreign power. Their respective gray-zone tactics aim to manipulate the PhilippinesвЂ™ highly centralized political power structure and its overall decision-making processes. This scenario is a result of both ChinaвЂ™s and AmericaвЂ™s ongoing electoral interventions directed at the country. The political contest among вЂњManchurianвЂќ and вЂњManhattanвЂќ candidates will surely characterize the countryвЂ™s electoral landscape for the next five months.

This is an outcome of heightening political warfare - mainly covert electoral interference activities and measures - between the two global great powers focused on the Philippines. Various Filipino presidential candidates are selectively becoming targets of foreign political influence. The effects of the China-US contention are also playing out in relation to next yearвЂ™s Philippine elections.

Its destabilizing undercurrents are broadly affecting the economic, political, diplomatic, and security domains of this vast land-maritime space, and the future social development path of Southeast AsiaвЂ™s huge masses of working people is in peril.

This global rivalry between the international orderвЂ™s top great powers is roiling the central dynamics of the Asia-Indo-Pacific region. The sharply rising geostrategic competition between China and the United States is causing worldwide impacts of crisis proportions.

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