Beijing, niresbakan ang US matapos siraan ang PH-China economic ties

TINAWAGAN ng pansin ng Chinese Embassy sa Maynila ang Washington DC dahil sa paninira sa economic relations ng China sa Pilipinas.

Ang pahayag na ito ay tugon sa lumabas na ulat kung saan kinukuwestiyon ni State Department Undersecretary Victoria Nuland kung  talagang  aktuwal na nakalikha ng hanapbuhay  para sa mga Filipino ang pangako ng Beijing sa nakaraan.

“China and the Philippines are natural partners for the geographical proximity, close kinship, and complementary advantages,” ayon sa embahada.

“In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and the Philippines have deepened the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the ‘Build, Build, Build’ and ‘Build Better More’ programs of the Philippines,” dagdag na wika nito.

Idagdag pa, napansin din na ang iba’t ibang government-to-government cooperation projects at ang kamakailan lamang na nilagdaang kasunduan sa pagitan ng Beijing at Maynila sa agrikultura, pangisdaan,  finance, customs, e-commerce, tourism, at iba pa.

Idinagdag pa ng embahada na ang pag- export ng sariwang Philippine durian sa China ay inaasahan na makalilikha ng 10,000 direct at indirect job opportunities sa “farming, packing at logistics chain” sa Pilipinas.

“Since (President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s) state visit many Chinese business delegations are coming to the Philippines, reaching extensive agreements on expanding trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, demonstrating the huge potential and broad prospects of China-Philippines practical cooperation,” ayon sa embahada.

Hanggang sa umabot sa usapin ng lumalagong  defense cooperation sa pagitan ng US at Pilipinas, lalo na ang sinabi ni Nuland na ang access ng  Washington DC sa apat pang  EDCA ay makapagdadala ng  “economic opportunities, jobs” sa kanilang  host communities.

“Such cooperation will seriously endanger regional peace and stability and drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife and damage its economic development at the end of the day,” ayon pa rin sa embahada.

Sinabi naman ni US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay  na ang commitment o pangako ng  Washington DC para ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas ay nananatiling  “ironclad” at maipagpapatuloy nito na palakasin ang kanilang “economic at investment relationship.”

“My only response to the PRC (People’s Republic of China) statement is to repeat what we have said for some time: The United States and the Philippines enjoy an alliance and partnership based on deep historical, economic, and cultural ties, and our shared democratic values,” anito sabay sabing “The United States and the Philippines stand together as friends, partners, and allies.”

Sinabi ng Department of Foreign Affairs  na sina Nuland at Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo  ay nagpulong noong Marso 6 at tinalakay ang  mga kaganpan sa West Philippines Sea habang sinisipat mabuti ang mga plano para sa nalalapit na US-Philippines defense at foreign ministerial meeting.

(Daris Jose)