News Release
Says Congress should expedite probe on China incursions
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares today assailed China’s newest provocative actions in Ayungin shoal saying that this does not foster a conducive atmosphere for multilateral or bilateral talks.
The progressive solon issued the statement as Philippine soldiers aboard a civilian vessel engaged on Saturday in a dramatic nearly two-hour standoff with Chinese Coast Guard ships near the disputed Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal claimed by both countries, an incident witnessed by journalists on board the Philippine vessel and a Philippine military plane circling the area.
“While it is good that all forms of talks to peacefully settle the dispute between the two countries should be utilized, the Philippines should not be strong armed by China or any other country to do its bidding. Such provocative actions should also be avoided so that tensions would not run high,” said the senior deputy minority leader.
“We also know that China’s actions have only escalated when the US announced its pivot to the Asia Pacific to counter check China’s growth and reassert its dominance in the region. As it is everything should be taken into perspective and the Aquino government should stop its blind assumption that the supposed Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation (AEDC) with the US would be to our advantage. There are also indications that the current situation is being engineered to ensure the signing of the treaty,” said Rep. Colmenares.
“China may be a threat but we however consider the US as the main threat as can be seen in its invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan–the US wants political and economic hegemony in Asia including our oil rich territories and is merely using the Spratly issue to justify its intervention and pivot to Asia,” said the progressive solon.
“We are calling on Congress to expedite the probe on China’s incursions on our country. We are also calling on the Malacanang to stop surrendering our sovereignty and patrimony by seeking heightened US military interference, negotiating for de facto US bases in the whole country, allowing plunder of foreign mining companies as well as bowing to US and foreign corporate dictates for Charter change,” Rep. Colmenares ended.
