The Philippines: Manila's Loss, Makati's Gain

Reflecting an understandable fear of Japanese economic domination, the Philippine Senate has dragged its feet on ratification of a proposed commercial treaty with Japan for more than six years. Yet even without a pact, business ties between the two countries have grown so fast that Japan now accounts for 42% of the Philippines' total foreign trade. That trade particularly rankles Manila's mayor, Antonio Villegas, 40, who has shown his displeasure by noisily trying to expel from his city 17 major Japanese firms.

Villegas' attack is directed almost as much against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, a bitter political rival, as against the...

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