PH not giving ‘too much, too soon’ in relations with China

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (PCOO Photo)

While defending the country’s sovereignty, Malacañang on Monday said that the Philippines has not given “too much, too early, and too soon” in enhancing relationship with China.

Speaking in a Palace news conference, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government under President Rodrigo Duterte continues to assert the country’s territorial rights in the South China Sea as it keeps its “friendly and mutually-beneficial” ties with the Red Dragon.

“The Duterte administration has certainly not given up too much too early too soon in its relations with China nor China gained more than us,” Roque said.

“On the contrary, we have upheld our national interests and produced tangible benefits for our people in pursuing friendly and mutually beneficial ties with China,” he added.

Roque stressed that there is “peace in the region” as local fishermen resumed fishing rights in Scarborough Shoal. He added that arrivals of Chinese tourists and investments from China are increasing.

“We have said in numerous occasions that we will continue to defend our sovereignty and sovereign rights when we discuss our territorial and maritime disputes with China while maximizing the benefits of our people by promoting economic and other relations with China in which there are no contentious issues between us,” the Palace official said.

University of the Philippines (UP) Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal on Saturday warned that the nation has given “too much, too early, and too soon” in maintaining harmonious relationship with China, saying that the Red Dragon is “gaining too much from our softness” on the territorial dispute.

“It is correct to try to make good relations but it should not come at the cost of our long-term interests. I am worried that our interests are not being adequately protected with our extremely soft and overfriendly image with China,” Batongbacal said.

He added that the Philippine government should be negotiating with China in an equal manner and “not that we are weak and cannot do anything.”

Roque dismissed the maritime law expert’s remark saying that the Philippines will continue to defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights when it discusses the country’s territorial and maritime disputes with China.