MANILA, Philippines — Following the balangay expedition to the West Philippine Sea, former transportation and environment undersecretary Art Valdez told China to revisit its relationship with the Philippines following the recent tensions in the disputed waters.
At a forum where Valdez shared the expedition of the newly-constructed balangay “Florentino Das” to the West Philippine Sea, said that the Philippines should continue to assert its rights in the disputed waters and asked China for its “arrogance” in owning the maritime region.
“We have to face them straight and tell them exactly: how can you be so arrogant when you were not even here before?” he told Orion Post after the forum sponsored by the Rotary Club of Manila at the Manila Polo Club,
He brushed off the idea of the possibility of war, saying that “nobody wins” at waging a war.
Valdez said that the Philippines should continue to dialogue with China and reminded them of how the Philippines and China were economically tied during the Manila Galleon Trade. At that time, galleons sailed to the Pacific bringing cargoes of Chinese and other Asian goods including porcelain and spices.
The galleon trade went on from 1565 to 1815.
“Why don’t we maintain the relationship that we have during the galleon trade? Nakikinabang tayong lahat eh, kumikita tayong lahat during the galleon trade eh,” he said.
According to the former government official, the Philippines was “left with no choice” but to run to the United States because of bullying from the Chinese authorities. This leaves the Philippines with another reason to keep its lines open to China and talk about the resolution of the West Philippine Sea dispute.
Recently, the US pledged an “unprecedented” donation of $500 million (P29.2 billion) assistance to support the Philippines to strengthen its military and security operations.
During the sidelines of the forum, solar power expert Wendell Tamayo, who was with Valdez during the expedition to the West Philippine Sea, likewise told Orion Post that several Chinese vessels had been patrolling and following them shortly after they reached the vicinity of Pag-asa Island.
He did not reveal the exact number of China vessels that patrolled and encircled them during their voyage to the West Philippine Sea last June but Tamayo said they were being “shooed away” by Chinese authorities in the disputed waters on their way to Pag-asa.
China has been deliberately driving Filipino fishermen and authorities away from the area for more than a decade. Despite the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines, Beijing has been dismissive of the Hague-based ruling and continuously sending troops to patrol and cruise around the maritime region.
Recently, reports showed that the presence of Chinese vessels, particularly the China Coast Guard, has been seen roaming in the waters of Palawan, which is inside the exclusive economic zone of the country.
