Chinese President Xi Jinping called his visit yesterday to long-time US ally the Philippines a “milestone”, as he aimed to boost blossoming ties on the promise of billions of dollars in backing for mega-projects.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has proven a willing recipient of Beijing’s attentions, declaring shortly after his election in 2016 his nation’s “separation” from former colonial master the US.

Since then Beijing, which is competing with Washington for supremacy in the Pacific, has promised $24 billion in investment and infrastructure loans that the developing nation of 105 million deeply needs.

But over two years later, only a trickle of funding has arrived, prompting critics to question whether Duterte has been duped into pivoting toward China and giving too much ground on the South China Sea dispute.