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.