De Lima: Duterte gov't becoming 'accomplice' in China military expansion

MANILA, Philippines — Detained Sen. Leila De Lima on Wednesday urged the Senate to probe China’s research in the Philippine Rise as she warned that the Philippine government’s preferential treatment of Beijing was making it a possible accomplice in the Chinese plan to extend its military and economic reach.

The senator stressed the need for the government to limit, if not prevent, Chinese access to the country’s territorial waters as this could expose strategic information that would endanger Manila’s national security.

“Circumstances surrounding Chinese activities in Philippine waters show that China’s interest over strategic areas within Philippine territory present a danger [to] our national interest, including our national security, economic and environmental interests, territorial integrity and sovereignty,” De Lima said.

De Lima filed Senate Resolution 604 which aimed to look into supposed “undue preference” given to China to explore the undersea region, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte barred foreign explorations in the region which came two days after Chinese vessels left the area.

Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino meanwhile urged the administration of Duterte to establish a consistent policy position on territorial and foreign policy issues.

He called on the government to be transparent about it dealings and agreements with other countries that may have repercussions on the country’s territory.

“We need full transparency in all our deals with other countries,” he said, stressing that the issue was too important for the government to be nonchalant.

On Tuesday, he called on the president to determine the country’s policies and programs for Benham Rise and welcomed Duterte’s cessation of foreign studies in the area.

However, Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo) revealed that Duterte’s stoppage order came two days after Chinese vessels left the area, an indication that they were done with their research.

De Lima said that Chinese access to waters off the country’s eastern seaboard would give Beijing military and scientific advantage by giving them information and access to areas including the Western Pacific Ocean Region.

“Continued tolerance by our government of Chinese incursions over our territorial waters makes our government an accomplice, wittingly or unwittingly, to the Chinese plan of expanding their military and economic reach well beyond their territory,” she said.

READ: Philippines conducting Benham Rise research without China

In her resolution, De Lima stated that China may just be looking for opportunities in the Pacific by increasing its submarine operations, citing former National Security Adviser Roilo Golez who said that the Chinese may just be looking for a thin layer of water called thermocline where their underwater assets could freely operate.

She said that this was in consonance to the statement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzan who said last year that China might be looking for “a place to put submarines” when he ordered the Philippine Navy to shoo China’s vessels away.

De Lima also stressed doubt on China’s compliance with the country’s regulations in the Philippine Rise as it had already shown “bad faith” by conducting research prior to Manila’s approval.

 Sen. Ralph Recto meanwhile called on the government to explore the Philippine Rise as a possible source of the country’s food and energy needs.

“With the West Philippine Sea effectively fenced off, we have to look to the "east Philippine seas" for our food and fuel,” he said.

READ: ‘Probe Benham Rise research deal’