China-related activities in the country: The Diliman College in Quezon City launched Nov. 18 a new academic center aimed at reshaping the negative perception of China. This followed a large gathering of overseas Chinese citizens at the Century Park Hotel in Manila in October, opposing Taiwan independence while promoting unification with the mainland.

A private school in Manila launched Nov. 18 a new academic center aimed at reshaping the negative perception of China at a time of ongoing tensions and widespread public distrust toward Beijing.

The opening of the new Philippine-Chinese Studies Center at Diliman College followed a large gathering of overseas Chinese citizens at the Century Park Hotel in Manila in October, opposing Taiwan independence while promoting unification with the mainland.

Chinese Embassy Charge d’Affaires Zhiyong Zhou was present in both events.

The new Center hopes “to overcome the extent of Filipino public ignorance” and generate “real empirical knowledge essential to promote mutual understanding,” said the Center’s director Rommel Banlaoi, a Chinese-educated security scholar.