Bi-Weekly Geopolitical Report – Meet Ferdinand Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines (July 22, 2024)
by Daniel Ortwerth, CFA | PDF
Seven short weeks ago, we published a report on the brewing tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, focusing on their dispute over the Second Thomas Shoal. Despite the tight time interval since that report, the brisk pace of continuing developments in the area and the ever-present risk of escalation bid us to return to the subject. This time we direct our attention to a key individual who sits at the focal point of the crisis: Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the president of the Philippines.
This report begins with a quick review of the geopolitical context that makes the Philippines-China dispute so important. We then outline the life and career of President Marcos Jr., and we review the relevant elements of the broader Philippine political landscape. Within that context, we will explain the key traits and actions of President Marcos Jr. as they relate to the present geopolitical concern, followed by an assessment of his likely course of action. Finally, we update the investment implications from the previous report.