Part 4/6:

The repatriations and the crackdown on POGOs further strain diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines. Earlier in the year, the Chinese government lodged formal complaints with Manila, expressing that the shut down of offshore gambling operations goes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between the two nations. This discontent is exacerbated by military developments in the region, including combined naval patrols between the United States and the Philippines, which Beijing views as a direct challenge to its maritime sovereignty.