‘Look kindly’ on PH, China told

As US solon bares ‘Pacific Deterrence Initiative’ amid WPS issues

Former President Rodrigo Duterte told Chinese President Xi Jinping “to look kindly on the Philippines” on the issue of the West Philippine Sea when they met last month, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Thursday, quoting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

President Marcos met with Duterte on Wednesday night to discuss his predecessor’s meeting with the Chinese leader, the Presidential Communications Office confirmed Thursday.

While the Palace said the two leaders talked about the meeting, it provided no details of what was said. Duterte did not say what Xi’s response was, as Mr. Marcos had a “casual dinner” with senators after meeting with his predecessor, Zubiri said.

Speaking to CNN Philippines, Zubiri said Mr. Marcos told them that Duterte had asked Xi “to look kindly on the Philippines”

Meanwhile, a visiting United States senator said the Philippines is expected to benefit from the $9 billion in initiatives that will be launched by the United States in response to China’s continued aggression in the region.

Unlike Duterte who spurned the Americans in favor of better relations with Beijing, Mr. Marcos has forged closer defense ties with the US—a stance that the former president has spoken out against.

Upon his arrival at the Palace at 6:15 p.m., Duterte had a one-on-one meeting with the President, before Cabinet members and the former chief executive’s companions joined them.

Cabinet members at the meeting were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil.

The former president was accompanied by Senator Christopher Go and former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The meeting ended at 8.15 p.m., after which the President had dinner with some senators, led by the Senate President.

Zubiri described the dinner as a “very cordial and casual get-together” and said nothing serious was discussed.

“The President’s been wanting to have this dinner for quite a while. It’s been a year since we started office and we’ve always said if we could host a dinner with all the senators to get together with all of them. So few topics were discussed, but nothing very serious,” Zubiri said.

Asked about Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s proposal to have Duterte serve as special envoy to China, Zubiri said, “Why not?”

He said anyone who can help diplomacy in this part of the world would be a big help.

Zubiri also said they did not discuss Senate Resolution No. 718, which condemns China for the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen, persistent incursions into the country’s exclusive economic zone, and violations of the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

“I think he knows that we had a meeting earlier during the week with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. So whatever the Secretary of Foreign Affairs divulged to us had the imprimatur of the President. I’m sure,” Zubiri said.

Senator Rick Scott, a member of the US Senate committee on armed services, said a new initiative called “the Pacific Deterrence Initiative” will step up the Philippines and the US strategy in countering China’s aggression in the region.

The initiative would be rolled out after the passing into law of the US National Defense Authorization Act, which is expected to happen in October, the American legislator said.

Kanishka Gangopadhyay, spokesperson of the US Embassy in Manila, said it would be the first time that the National Defense Authorization Act, which is being passed yearly, would include such an initiative.

Gangopadhyay said the Pacific Deterrence Initiative would complement the existing Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between Manila and Washington, which were already bolstered and expanded to respond to the arising threats in the Indo-Pacific.

In a separate briefing, Teodoro said there is a need to speed up the development of all existing locations identified as EDCA sites with the US.

He said he saw first-hand the “operational limitations” of refueling Philippine and American aircraft engaged in relief missions after the onslaught of Typhoon Egay last week.

Earlier, the US Congress granted the Philippines $100 million for its military modernization program.

“I support initiatives to create resiliency and success for the government, the Philippines, and people of the Philippines… I’m going to support the continuous increase in [the] relationship [between the Philippines and the US],” Scott said.

Scott said the US may send arms to the Philippines, depending on what the two governments would work out.

“Our goal is to continue to help the Philippines—one help their economy grow, and to make sure their military is resilient,” Scott said.

Scott left the Philippines on Thursday noon after meeting with key Philippine officials, including Teodoro, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary JV Chan-Gonzaga as well as Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

While here, Scott also prodded Washington’s “allies, partners and friends” composed of like-minded nations, including the Philippines, to counter China’s purported “bullying” and aggression in the Indo-Pacific.

Scott said the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, and Australia, and even the European Union must “recognize the risk…for our families if Communist China gets their way.”

The American lawmaker made the statement as he deplored China’s “bullying against Philippine fishermen,” its dangerous maneuvers against Filipino personnel in the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), and its supposed spying.

Scott urged the US allies and partners to act together in a bid to “stop bullying by common struggle.”

In other developments:

* Stabilizing China-US relations is possible this year and will benefit the Philippines and Asia, geopolitics experts Prof. Rommel Banlaoi and Prof. Robin Garcia said at a forum on Thursday. At the Pandesal Forum, the two professors said a military conflict between the US and China would be “catastrophic,” especially if it involves Taiwan, which is geographically close to the Philippines. With Vince Lopez

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