Philippines says will not comply with US sanctions on China
Press TV – September 1, 2020
The Philippines says it will not comply with the United States’ sanctions against China over regional disputes in the South China Sea, even though Manila itself is involved in one such dispute with Beijing.
Philippine presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced during a Tuesday press briefing that President Rodrigo Duterte would not comply with unilateral US sanctions against Chinese firms involved in constructing artificial islands in the South China Sea.
Roque said Manila would make its own decisions and would not follow those of a foreign country.
“We are not a vassal state of any foreign power and we will pursue our national interest,” the Philippine presidential spokesman said. “Our national interest is to ensure flagship projects are completed.”
He said the Chinese firms would continue working on infrastructure projects in the Philippines. The Philippine government is trying to make progress in a 180-billion-dollar overhaul of the country’s infrastructure.
The remarks came despite statements made last week by the Filipino foreign minister that he would recommend that the government abandon the deals with the Chinese companies.
The US — a defense treaty ally of the Philippines — last Wednesday announced sanctions against 24 Chinese companies and individuals over what Washington alleged to be involvement in constructing military facilities on submerged reefs in disputed waters of the South China Sea.
China claims sovereignty over much of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei, besides the Philippines, have overlapping claims with China to parts of the sea. The United States, an extra-territorial force, has been stirring regional tensions by provoking China’s rival claimants and conducting routine sails or fly-overs in the sea.
Relations between Washington and Beijing have dropped to the lowest level in decades since US President Donald Trump came to power. The two countries are currently at loggerheads over numerous issues, including trade, technology, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the East and South China Seas, and most recently, the coronavirus pandemic.
The US has been significantly ratcheting up the tensions with China in all of those areas recently.
The USA has Military bases all over the World, but doesn’t want China to have any in the ocean off the coast of China. Too bad. The Chinese are going to build them anyway, and the Philippines, sees no value in upsetting their giant neighbour…..
What you sow….you reap.
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Sounds like a decent and principled “not a vassal state” position to me. I cannot but admire the PI.
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Whether we like it or not, WE ALL have to compromise, and get along with each other(that is why the UN was formed in the first place. But the “Forces that control” the USA Government want the USA to be Judge Jury and Executioner in all important matters(instead of the UN).
I’m sorry, but it is the USA GOVERNMENT which is “out of step” with the rest of the World, not the UN, Philippines or anyone else…….
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