Public rhetoric on West Philippine Sea causes fear on Filipinos — Robredo
MANILA, Philippines — Despite the Philippine government's efforts to assert sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, the public rhetoric used on the maritime dispute sows fear among Filipinos, Vice President Leni Robredo said.
In July 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a ruling in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, part of which is the West Philippine Sea.
The Duterte administration has "pocketed" the arbitral tribunal ruling, which the vice president deemed as a cause for concern.
"I think what’s causing fear among many Filipinos is the public rhetoric that’s being used... There is fear that we’re relegating to the margins the gains that we’ve had when we won the arbitral tribunal ruling," Robredo said at the CSIS-Pertamina Banyan Tree Leadership Forum in Washington.
Despite this rhetoric, Robredo acknowledged the government's moves to thwart further threats to the country's sovereignty.
In May, there have been reports that the Philippines has started the long-delayed repairs of Rancudo Airfield in Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.
Malacañang defended the repairs, stressing that the repair of facilities was consistent with the country's sovereignty and jurisdiction.
Robredo also noted that Manila has ramped up its air and sea patrols in the contested waters, with the help of long-time ally United States.
Despite these efforts, the vice president said the government could do more to make sure that the arbitral tribunal ruling is "given spirit."
"Because of this fear, it is always not enough. It is always not enough. We would hope that... we always hope that we could do more," she said.
Chinese infrastructure projects
On one of his trips to Beijing, President Rodrigo Duterte signed memorandum of understandings for $24 billion worth of infrastructure projects.
CSIS senior adviser Amy Searight noted that two years after the deals were made, no work has begun for any of the Chinese infrastructure projects.
Searight asked Robredo if Duterte got a good deal from Beijing but the vice president said it was "difficult to say" due to the lack of transparency.
"We have been trying to look for information on the deals made, but it’s difficult to have access to them. I feel that government should be more transparent," Robredo said.
Robredo also mentioned that there have speculations that Beijing has been withholding the implementation of the projects due to the Manila's indecision on the proposed joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea.
"The joint exploration is a cause for concern. I myself have been very vocal about my opposition to the joint exploration. I feel that if a joint exploration is going to be made, it should conform to the provisions of our Constitution," she said.
Earlier this month, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines is trying to rush the possible joint exploration with China.
The two countries did not set a deadline on a framework on the proposed project but agreed to finish it as soon as possible.
The Philippines has offered a 60-40 sharing scheme on joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea.
"They said they are open to it but it really depends on our commercial entities and what they have discussed," Cayetano earlier told reporters.
"It would have to pass the scrutiny of Congress and judiciary so we are asking ourselves the hard questions now: if this happens, what’s this and this," he added.
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