2 MIN READ

By SHERWIN DE VERA
www.nordis.net

VIGAN CITY — Different groups expressed concern over the touted “achievements” from the three-day state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr in China, saying his promise to strengthen bilateral relations with the country would further Chinese dominance over the West Philippine Sea.

“The strengthened bilateral communications merely mean that China is in a greater position to coerce and bully (the Philippines) and (the Philippines) has a medium to beg crumbs from China,” said Arthur Boquiren, Kilusan Laban sa Imperyalismong China (Movement Against Imperialist China or KLIC) convenor.

“The strengthened bilateral communications strengthen the ability of a bureaucrat to acquire financial and other privileges from China as China intensifies the exploitation of Philippine resources,” he added.

In one of his talks during the three-day visit, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr expressed hope that his visit would solidify the country’s relationship with China.

During the visit, the Philippine government signed 14 bilateral agreements with China on January 4. These include documents of understanding on agriculture and fisheries, loans, trade, and tourism.

Also clinched in the meeting was the creation of a direct communication line, which the government announced last December, to avoid further escalation of tension in the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, created under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ruled in favor of the Philippines. China rejected the decision and continues to assert sovereignty and conduct activities over the waters and islands, and has set up several facilities.

House Speaker Martin Rumualdez, a cousin of Marcos, touted the visit as “highly successful,” citing “the rapport [and] the personal exchanges” between Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Uphold UNCLOS

However, Boquiren said the claimed achievements of Marcos’ state visit are “nothing more than just a social engineering” that favors China’s dominance.

“The fundamental solution remains” Ask China to abide by the UNCLOS and dismantle her military and bogus civilian bases from [Republic of the Philippines] EEZs and mobilize all countries of the world to ask China to abide by the UNCLOS,” he added.

In a January 3 statement, KLIC laid down six issues that Marcos should tackle with Chinese officials during the visit, which include the Code of Conduct on the West Philippine Sea based on UNCLOS and “unconditionally respect the right of Filipino fishermen to fish” in the area.

National fisherfolk group. Pambansang Lakas ng Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), also asserted that there should be “no compromise” regarding the country’s EEZ.

“China should leave the Philippine waters immediately and unconditionally,” said PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson Fernando Hicap in a January 6 statement.

He added that Chinese encroachment and occupation of the country’s territorial waters have drastically reduced the income of Filipino fishers.

PAMALAKAYA estimates that Zambales fishers lose about 70% of their fishing income per fishing trip due to aggressive Chinese forces in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Public disclosure

Meanwhile, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) urged Malacañang to disclose the full details of the P22.8-billion investment, which the Chinese government promised to the Marcos administration.

“We want to know the full details and conditionalities of the short-term agricultural and fisheries cooperation between the Department of DA and China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,” said KMP chairperson emeritus Rafael Mariano on January 6.

He warned that the deal might further threaten the country’s deteriorating agriculture.

According to him, the Marcos administration’s compromise with China on the rights of Filipino fishers “is like abandoning all legal and political claims on the West Philippine Sea.” # nordis.net