Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday said the government must stop giving projects to Chinese-owned companies and to boycott all Chinese products as a sign of protest for their continued harassment of our Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and fishermen within our territory.

Zubiri said he will talk with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan to get rid of the Chinese-owned companies engaged in DPWH projects as he also urged the government to start looking for other trading partners instead of relying on China just what Vietnam did.

“Maghanap din po tayo ng ibang trading partners kung saan mapalago natin at mapaganda natin ang ekonomiya ng ating bansa na hindi po tayo dependent sa China, hindi po tayo nakasandal sa China para sa ating mga produkto (Let’s look for other partners where we can grow and improve our economy and not rely on China),” Zubiri said in a radio interview.

He added that the Philippines may reopen its free trade agreements with countries like the United States, European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asian countries.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo, for his part, asked the government to stop sending high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to China to study and train with its military academy with the Chinese government paying all expenses.

The said information was divulged by Sen. Francis Tolentino yesterday (Aug. 7) during the public hearing of the Committee on National Defense chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Tolentino’s revelation was confirmed by Undersecretary Ireneo Espino of the Department of National Defense.

In a statement, Tulfo said the government must put a stop to the said program because it is a complete insult to the Filipinos who continue to be bullied by China.

He cited the persistent harassment and bullying of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by the Chinese military in the West Philippine Sea. The latest incident being last Aug. 5 wherein one of China’s coast guard vessels used a water cannon against a Philippine Navy and PCG boat meant to deliver supply in Ayungin Shoal. (PNA) 

Photo credit: Presidential Communications Office Official Website