China’s masterstroke

A NATIONAL newspaper quoted Professor Renato de Castro of De La Salle University’s International Studies department as saying in a forum in Makati City that, “Foreign policy has to be democratic. It has to reflect the sentiment of the people.” Just like what the recent survey of Pulse Asia revealed – eight out of 10 Filipinos or 84 percent wanted the government to assert Philippine rights over the West Philippine Sea.

This is another aspect that the that China is supporting are often Duterte administration should intended not to support the local consider, not just plain independent economy but to facilitate Chinese foreign policy. Yes, independent access to natural resources, or to decisions with no foreign influence. open the market for low-cost and But it is another thing when you say shoddy Chinese goods. In many it should be influenced by the Filipino cases, China even sends its own people – your constituents. Not just construction workers, minimizing you or the people in your loop. the number of local jobs that are

If an overwhelming 84 percent of created. Remember the shady North Filipinos wanted the government to Rail project? uphold our rights to the contested “Several of the projects that have area in the South China Sea / West been completed are now bleeding Philippine Sea, it could mean a money. For example, Sri Lanka’s more aggressive and firm stand Mattala Rajapaksa International to claim it based on the ruling at Airport, which opened in 2013 near The Hague’s Permanent Court of Hambantota, has been dubbed the Arbitration. So there seems to be a world’s emptiest. sort of apprehension on the part of “Li kewise, Hambantota’s the present leadership in pursuing Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa our rightful claim. Why is this so? Port; it remains largely idle, as does

This is not unusual when one is the multibillion-dollar Gwadar Port dealing with China economically in Pakistan. For China, however, these like in other countries. An article by projects are operating exactly as Brahma Chellaney from the Strategist needed: Chinese attack submarines online explains this further: “If there have twice docked at Sri Lankan is one thing at which China’s leaders ports, and two Chinese warships truly excel, it is the use of economic were recently pressed into service tools to advance their country’s for Gwadar port security. geostrategic interests. “In a sense, it is even better for

“Through its $ 1- trillion ‘ one China that the projects don’t do well. belt, one road’ initiative, China is After all, the heavier the debt burden supporting infrastructure projects on smaller countries, the greater in strategically located developing China’s own leverage becomes. countries, often by extending huge Already, China has used its clout to loans to their governments. As a push Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and result, countries are becoming Thailand to block a united ASEAN ensnared in a debt trap that leaves stand against China’s aggressive them vulnerable to China’s influence. pursuit of its territorial claims in the

“Of course, extending loans South China Sea.” for infrastructure projects is not And that includes our country as inherently bad. But the projects the host of the ASEAN summit where the South China Sea issue is not in the agenda.

“Moreover, some countries, overwhelmed by their debts to China, are being forced to sell to it stakes in Chinese-financed projects or hand over their management to Chinese state-owned firms.

“In financially risky countries, China now demands majority ownership up front. For example, China clinched a deal with Nepal this month to build another largely Chinese- owned dam there, with its state- run China Three Gorges Corporation taking a 75 percent stake.”

Another crucial issue that may affect national security matters vis-à-vis China is our electric power grid. Unfortunately, it is not national as the name of the office implies; the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is not wholly owned by the Philippines but partly owned by the state grid of China.

Many more agreements with China are already in the pipeline as what President Rodrigo Duterte proudly told the Filipino nation. And these are not for free. This is what China termed as soft loan, which they Holding hands. (#477)

* Saturday evenings — Sometimes, we wait for Sunset, and kiss again. (#478)

* Saturday cannibals — Dinner and movies; and then, We eat each other. (#479)

* Weekend lovers — We take what we can take; And always eat hungry. (#480)

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