No grandstanding in WPS meet Rody: It’s all about oil

No grandstanding will be allowed in a meeting among members of the Executive and Legislative branches that Sen. Richard Gordon has proposed to discuss the administration’s policy toward China’s aggressive buildup in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“The talks should not be made public, there should be no grandstanding. The issue should be discussed to make it clear. If there’s disagreement, then we can do a legislative review anytime,” Gordon said.

“There are game plans which Congress should know. The problem is that we are lacking on that front. So we have to start fixing such lack,” he said.

“[Do it] in a proper way because you cannot conduct diplomacy before the eyes of the media because there will be a tendency, even on the part of the President to play a macho game. Same with us [lawmakers],” Gordon said.

Instead of calling for a Senate hearing, Gordon said a meeting in Malacañang should be resorted to, explaining lawmakers cannot be kept in the dark regarding the situation with China.

While the President is considered as the chief architect in foreign policy, Gordon said the foreign policy is subject to perpetual review.

“The foreign affairs (department) should reveal to Congress its every move to guide the Legislature on what it can do. The review should be constant to guide Congress and the President on their actions. It can’t be possible that we only react,” he said.

As it is, the senator said there’s also a need to speak with one voice as there are just too many who speak about the issue.

“The foreign affairs (department) should reveal to Congress its every move.”

The country’s dealings with China and problems that had cropped up

recently such as the alleged harassment suffered by Filipino fishermen in the hands of the Chinese Coast Guard should be part of the discussions, he said.

“We should have a unified voice. We can’t have so many personalities talking, most of whom do not appreciate the totality of the issue. It is too easy to ignite public emotion,” Gordon said.

“The subject here is not the territory but the fishing grounds. Our problem is when the giant vessels of the Coast Guard of China arrive, Filipino fishermen do not have protection so we need an intense discussion with China. Who would help us? Will the United States fight for us to protect our fishing rights? I don’t think so. I don’t think so,” the senator said.

Gordon said there seems to be no clear position and this has been going on even in the past administrations.

And even if the country is lacking in logistical support, in terms of military capability to deal head-on with China, the government should not back down in asserting its territorial rights, he added.

After all of the diplomatic means have been exhausted, pursuing formal protests can be resorted to, the senator added.

“We should speak softly but carry a bigger stick,” Gordon said.

In a speech in Davao City, President Duterte attributed the aggressive posture of China in the disputed region to its interest in finding oil resources for industrial development.

The President indicated a growing need among rich countries to find oil resources to meet the growing demand in their country.

“It’s really the resources, eventually it’s geopolitics. China, posturing there, is also interested in oil. So they need it because it fuels industrialization,” Duterte said during the celebration of Eid’l Fitr, the end of the Muslim feast of Ramadan.

“The secret is the oil. And they used the resources of that country and the fat of the land to reach or arrive now on their present level of industrialization,” he said.

“Anywhere you look in this world, even the mic in front of me and the glass of water, and the paper that I will be reading or I may not. All of that, it’s oil. It’s oil there outside. You’d see many vehicles produced or even the primitive lathe machines and that is a product of an equipment or machine using oil,” he said.

Duterte said a related problem with massive industrialization is climate change which the Philippines is being made to suffer due to regulations now that was meant for industrialized states which are being compelled to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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