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JV Ejercito calls for review of all Chinese interests in the PH after Ayungin Shoal incident

August 07, 2023

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday urged the national government to review all “Chinese interests” in the Philippines after Chinese Coast Guards blocked and fired water cannons at a Philippine resupply mission near Ayungin Shoal.

In the interest of national security, Ejercito said such a review can start with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), a local power transmission operator that is partially owned by the State Grid Corporation of China.

“Dapat rebyuhin na ang lahat ng mga Chinese interest dito, lalo na yung NGCP, na 40 percent ay pag-aari ng State Grid Corporation of China, because of national security issues,” he said in an interview.

An enraged Ejercito said the Chinese government can no longer be trusted after recent tensions between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea, adding that the said superpower is not acting like an ally or friend.

“Nakakainit ng ulo. Kung pwede lang hamunin sa suntukan ito. Kakapasa palang ng Senado sa sense nito tungkol sa ginagawang harassment ng Chinese Coast Guard sa ating Philippine Coast Guard, sa Navy, at sa ating mga mangingisda, wala pang isang linggo, ito nanaman ang ginawa. Sumusobra na. Hindi na sila kakampi o kaibigan.

Yesterday, the lawmaker from San Juan asked the national government to expedite the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and expand the country’s defense pacts with its allies.

During the Senate’s deliberations on the 2023 national budget, Ejercito was one of the staunchest defenders of the AFP Modernization Program.

He also said lawmakers are now setting aside their political differences to resist China’s growing aggression within Philippine territorial waters.

“For its part, the Senate sees the urgency of the situation and is working hard to support these efforts through legislation that will enable us to effectively boost our defense posture in the region. Nagkakaiba man sa pulitika, iisa ang aming panawagan: Ang atin ay atin! Atin ang West Philippine Sea!” Ejercito said.

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