What does China's military jet landing in Davao symbolize?

MANILA - The landing of a Chinese plane in Davao City illustrated a paradigm shift and Beijing's "preferential treatment" for President Rodrigo Duterte and his hometown, a security analyst said Monday.

• Gov't confirms Chinese military plane landed in PH to refuel

It showed how Davao has also become a "seat of power," and not only the Philippine capital of Manila, said Chester Cabalza, vice president for the Center of Research and Strategic Studies at the Development Academy of the Philippines.

He added, Davao's strategic location has an effect on how the Philippines deals with China.

"We could infer China is giving importance with its relationship to our president and with the country. There's more impact on this because China is giving preferential treatment to President Duterte and to his city that is Davao," he told ANC's Headstart.

Photos of the military plane supposedly landing last week at the Davao City International Airport circulated Saturday on social media.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday confirmed the Australia-bound jet was in the Philippines to refuel, with the government's permission.

Defense analyst Jose Antonio Custodio, citing military sources, claimed the Chinese plane was in the Philippines for several days, much longer than the time it would have needed to refuel.