Senator Roxas: Not a square meter to be subtracted from RP territory

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said the Philippines should not allow even a square inch to be subtracted from the national territory, as he urged the government to use all international fora to defend the country's sovereignty.

He said this in line with the approval yesterday by the House of the Baselines bill and the subsequent insistence of China over their claim on the Spratlys Islands and other disputed islands.

"Gawin natin kung ano ang dapat nating gawin. Proteksyunan natin ang ating teritoryo. 'Wag nating isu-surrender ang ating claim nang basta-basta na lang, kesyo magalit ang Tsina, ang Vietnam, ang Malaysia o iba pang bansa (We should do what we need to do to protect our territory. We should not surrender our claim only out of fear that China, Vietnam, Malaysia or any other country will retaliate)," he said.

"Mahalaga ang republika. Ano ngayon kung magreklamo sila? Dapat magreklamo rin tayo laban sa panghihimasok nila sa ating soberanya. Hindi ako papayag na mabawasan tayo ng kahit isang metro kwadrado (Our republic is important. So what if they complain? We should also complain against their claim that is an affront to our sovereignty. I will not allow even a square meter to be taken from us)," he said.

Roxas said that the Philippines should defend its territory and exhaust all mechanisms under the United Nations, the International Court of Justice and other international fora to aggressively defend the Philippines' claim.

The Ilonggo senator said fears that trade and other relations with China and other countries may be soured due to this dispute should not blur the primary need to defend the national territory and sovereignty.

"Hindi naman puwedeng lahat na lang ay ibibigay natin sa kanila. Dahil lamang mas malaki ang Army o Navy nila, su-surrender na tayo? Ang mahalaga ay manindigan tayo para sa ating bansa (They are not entitled to everything. Are we going to surrender just because they have a stronger Army or Navy? What's important is we stand for our country and its territory)," he said.

China on Wednesday complained against the Philippines' laying claim over parts of the disputed Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal through the Baselines bill passed by the House of Representatives. Kalayaan Islands, which is part of the province of Palawan, is another disputed territory.

Roxas further explained that under the "Regime of Islands," which is part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Philippines does not give up its claim over the contested territories, but only recognizes that other countries are also staking a claim over these territories.

Friday, February 20, 2009 | posted in baselines bill, china, malaysia, mar roxas, scarborough shoal, spratlys controversy, unclos, vietnam | 2 comments [ More ]

China affirms respect for RP domestic laws in commercial deals

A top official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) today affirmed that it is the policy of Premier Wen Jiabao and the CPC that all Chinese firms must strictly abide by the domestic laws in the countries where they operate.

According to Senator Mar Roxas, CPC International Department Vice Minister Liu Hongcai made the affirmation this morning in the context of their frank and cordial discussions on the ZTE-NBN deal and the Spratlys controversy.

“Vice Minister Liu’s statement is fair and timely, katulad ng pagrespeto ng ating mga kumpanya sa kanilang mga batas kapag pumasok sila sa Tsina,” he said.

Senior Liberal Party leaders led by Roxas and the visiting CPC delegation headed by Liu met for breakfast at the Hotel Sofitel this morning.

“They understand very well our LP position that we must hold our own government officials accountable for anomalies or incompetence attendant to the ZTE-NBN and Spratlys controversies,” he said.

“Naiintindihan nila na mahalaga para sa atin na malaman ang katotohanan sa likod ng ZTE-NBN deal. Sa kanila ang ZTE ay isang komersyal na transaksyon lamang, na hindi dapat makasira sa relasyon ng Pilipinas at Tsina,” he added.

During the meeting, Roxas said it was “unfortunate” that despite the goodwill and assistance extended by China to the Philippines and the rest of the countries in the region, China has been put in a “difficult situation” due to graft and corruption committed by certain Filipino officials.

“We in the Philippines appreciate the help and goodwill of China, but we must make sure that our own domestic procedures are done properly. We cannot allow our officials to act to the detriment of our people and in the process erode the positive views and warm sentiments of Filipinos towards China,” he said.

Roxas also noted efforts in China to fight corruption in all aspects of government, which their President Hu Jintao has said is one of the biggest threats to the legitimacy and survival of the CPC. On the matter of the territorial dispute on the Spratlys group of islands, Roxas said the LP supports the principle that the South China Sea must be a “zone of prosperity and harmony”.

“As there are other claimants in the area, our interest is to live together like good neighbors, coexist peacefully and find mutually beneficial solutions to our problems,” he said.

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“At the same time, the LP’s interest is also to make sure that in all negotiations affecting the Spratlys issue, our government officials act in the best interest of Filipinos,” he added.

“We in the LP will look at the Spratlys issue dispassionately and not use it for partisan political advantage,” he stressed.

During the meeting, both Roxas and Liu agreed to help promote closer ties between the LP and the CPC and to help strengthen economic, cultural and political relations between the Philippines and China. Liu has invited Roxas, as LP President, to visit China in the near future, for which Roxas expressed his warm appreciation.

Also present in the meeting for the LP were LP Secretary-General Joseph Emilio “Jun” Abaya, LP Director-General Camilo Miguel Montesa, National Institute for Policy Studies President Mario Taguiwalo and former 1987 Constitutional Commissioner Florangel Braid.

The CPC delegation also included Asian Bureau of the International Department Director-General Ail Ping and directors Zhang Xuyi and Rao Huihua, among others.

Liberal Party (LP) President Senator Mar Roxas discussed with Communist Party of China International Department Vice Minister Liu Hongcai how important it is to the Filipino people to hold Philippine officials accountable for the botched National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with ZTE Corp., in a meeting on Tuesday of officials of the LP and the CPC.According to Roxas, Vice Minister Liu has conveyed to him that it is their government's policy that all foreign corporations of China must abide by the rule of law in the countries where these operate; and that the ZTE issue is only a commercial transaction that should not bear down on the good standing relations of the Philippines and China. The two parties met upon the request of the CPC, to discuss ways to strengthen party-to-party relations.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 | posted in china, mar roxas, philippines, rao huihua, spratlys controversy, zhang xuyi, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas, LP leaders to meet with Chinese Communist Party leaders

Amid the raging controversy over the National Broadband Network deal and the joint seismic exploration of the Spratlys, Senator Mar Roxas and several leaders from the Liberal Party will meet with a delegation from the Communist Party of China (CPC), upon request of the latter tomorrow, Tuesday in Manila.

“China is bound to be the biggest economy in the world and is a historic friend of the Filipinos. The LP intends to explore with the CPC how to strengthen RP-China ties on the basis of mutual respect, and move forward along shared principles of good governance, fair economic cooperation and our respective people's interests,” he said.

“Ang Tsina ngayon ay kinikilala bilang higante sa mundo pagdating sa ekonomiya at geo-politics. Nasa interes ng Pilipinas na patibayin ang relasyon nito sa Tsina, nang hindi isinasantabi ang pambansang interes,” he said.

Roxas said he will stress the importance of greater transparency in bilateral agreements not only with China but also with other allies. “Diplomacy and transparency in government should not be in conflict with each other,” he stressed.

“This strengthening of diplomatic and economic relations must always be founded on the national interest and the welfare of Filipinos. We will explore with them how to ensure accountability and transparency in all our joint undertakings,” he said.

Roxas said he will also discuss serious concerns on the NBN deal, and discuss ways to cooperate on running after those involved and on ensuring transparency in future deals. “The prime interest of the LP is truth and accountability,” he stressed.

“Lilinawin ko sa kanila na ang LP ay para sa pagbunyag ng katotohanan sa likod ng kontratang ZTE-NBN, at tatalakayin sa kanila ang posibilidad ng kooperasyon para habulin ang mga may pananagutan,” he said.

“As a long-term cooperative effort, we will dialogue on how to ensure transparency and accountability in all foreign loans and agreements that both countries will undertake in the future. This is in line with our party’s agenda to reform the procurement system,” he said.

Meanwhile, on the Spratlys territorial conflict, Roxas said that dialogue and consultations between and among the claimants should be done in the tradition of friendship and cooperation, while at the same time, heeding the people’s calls for greater transparency. “I believe this matter will be resolved in the spirit of mutual respect and fair principles,” he said.

Joining Roxas as part of the LP delegation are LP Secretary-General Joseph Emilio “Jun” Abaya, LP Director-General Camilo Miguel Montesa, National Institute for Policy Studies President Mario Taguiwalo and former 1987 Constitutional Commissioner Florangel Braid.

The CPC delegation will be led by Vice Minister Liu Hongcai of the International Department, Central Committee; Asian Bureau of the International Department Director-General Ail Ping and directors Zhang Xuyi, Rao Huihua; among others.

Monday, March 10, 2008 | posted in china, mar roxas, philippines, spratlys controversy, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]