The Philippines' president-elect Rodrigo Duterte will reportedly meet three foreign envoys, including the Chinese Ambassador to Manila, on Monday, a gesture experts believe may indicate adjustments to the country's foreign policy toward China.

The BRP Tarlac, the Philippine navy's first-ever strategic sealift vessel, arrives at the South Harbor in Manila on Monday. The ship will serve as the Philippine navy's floating command and control ship as the country modernizes its fleet with tensions in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua will be among the first foreign envoys Duterte will meet, who said that he wants friendly relations with China and is open to direct talks over the South China Sea disputes, the AFP reported on Sunday.

"The arrangement shows that Duterte will focus more on economic and business ties with countries in the region than nationalism, and he strongly intends to maintain good relations with China," Gu Xiaosong, an expert on Southeast Asian Studies at the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.

"Though the Philippine economy has grown during the six years of the Aquino administration, the country's average citizen hasn't benefitted much from it. Duterte's high support rate shows that Filipinos want more economic benefits, which will push him to prioritize the country's economic development," Gu said.

Duterte may also use the meeting to inform China of his stance on the South China Sea issue, experts said.

Although he suggested settling the disputes through direct negotiations with China, and proposed the principle of shelving differences and conducting a joint development in the South China Sea, Duterte also vowed to ride a jet ski to Huangyan Island and plant the national flag there, media reported.

"Duterte may not take a soft stance on the South China Sea issue, but he will definitely be more flexible in terms of territorial disputes with China," Ei Sun Oh, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies of Nanyang Technological University, told the Global Times.

Though the new government is expected to adjust its South China Sea policy, room for adjustment is stifled by the verdict on the arbitration case and the country's domestic political climate, said Li Kaisheng, an associate research fellow at the Institute of International Relations, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

"The Philippines' vice president is very likely to be a member of the Liberal Party, who may oppose Duterte if he makes significant changes to the country's policy toward China," Li said.

The Chinese foreign ministry congratulated Duterte on Monday, and hopes the new government will have the same willingness and attitude and make joint efforts with China, the Xinhua News Agency reported.