Chinese-Filipino groups downplay Sinophobia over earthquake aid in Philippines

Chinese-Filipino business groups have sent aid to earthquake-hit residents in the southern Philippines, continuing their tradition of providing disaster relief at a time when worsening Manila-Beijing ties have complicated public perceptions of people and organisations linked to China.In General Santos City, among the areas hardest hit by the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on June 8, local officials and survivors said politics had little place in disaster recovery as they welcomed the donations of food, water and other emergency items from the Chinese-Filipino community.But some observers said the relief drive had drawn extra scrutiny as Manila and Beijing remained entangled in the China-sea-dispute" class="entity-link entity-topic" data-entity-id="151805" data-entity-type="topic">South China Sea dispute and security controversies involving Chinese nationals in the Philippines had put Filipinos on edge.