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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sen. Imee cautions against hasty termination of business deals with Chinese companies

Sen. Imee cautions against hasty termination of business deals with Chinese companies

Published Aug 29, 2020 06:35 pm

Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday cautioned the government against hastily terminating business deals with Chinese companies that were involved in China's militarization and reclamation in the West Philippines Sea.

Senator Imee R. Marcos
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)

Marcos, in a radio interview, said that while she was "very happy" that Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. was fighting for the country's sovereign rights, she said authorities should be careful in issuing pronouncements that involve "complicated" matters.

Locsin said on Friday that he would "strongly recommend" the termination of local business agreements with Chinese firms that were complicit in their country's assailed reclamation activities in the West Philippines Sea.

His statement follows the United States' sanctions against Chinese individuals and state-owned firms that have contributed to the incursions. 

"Kaya lang ang sitwasyon diyan ay hindi ganoon kasimple (But the situation there is not that simple)," Marcos told radio DWIZ Saturday afternoon.

"Tamang-tama 'yong sharp rebuke, tama 'yong sinita kaagad, pero 'yong hihintuin 'yong mga kontratista, isa-isahin muna natin kasi pag nagsalita tayo ng pagkalahatan, madadamay dyan ang maraming kontrata dito sa Pilipinas (The sharp rebuke is laudable, he was correct in calling out China's activities, but to terminate all the contracts, I think we should do it slowly, one by one, because several other contracts might also be affected)," she pointed out.

She specifically cited the possible effect of the warning to the planned development of the Sangley Point Airport in Cavite, which is a joint venture of the Philippine-based MacroAsia Corporation and the China Communication Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC).

CCCC was among the companies blacklisted by the US as it helped in China's construction of artificial islands in the disputed areas in the South China Sea.

"Papaano 'yan, hihintuin din 'yong mga kontratistang 'yan...Eh madedelay na naman 'yan, paano naman yong airport (How about that, would we stop its contractors...Then the project will again be delayed, how about the airport)?" she asked.

"Pati 'yong partner nila na Filipino, madadali ng mga kontratista 'yan kasi kasama rin nila, sosyo rin nila 'yong iba riyan (Even their Filipino partner will be affected because they're supposed to be partners in that project)," she added.

Marcos also warned the Philippine government from seeking US help against China's aggressions, saying the country might ask for favors in return especially amid their election season.

"Minsan, dahan dahan muna tayo sa pananalita, higit sa lahat, konting tiis hanggang may solusyon. Isa-isahin muna natin para 'yong kilos natin wag pabigla-bigla (That's why sometimes, we should be careful in speaking up, most especially, let's just put up with China's activities for now until we have other solutions. We should be careful with our actions and not do it in haste),"

"Baka mas trouble 'yan sa inaakala natin (It might cause us troubles more than those we expect)," she said.

In 2016, the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal backed the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Mischief Reef, or the Panganiban Reef, and the Second Thomas or the Ayungin Shoal and scrapped China's "nine-dashed line" claim over the area.

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