Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit is a “positive” point for the Philippines, a political analyst said on Wednesday.
Asked in an interview over Radyo Inquirer if Xi’s state visit is good for the country on the whole, Professor Clarita Carlos answered: “Positive. Everything is just good.”
Carlos said that Xi’s visit to the country means that he is seeing the Philippines as a strategic location and was already “courting” the country for its geography.
“We should be thankful that he devoted some time to us and I’m sure narerealize niya na sobrang strategically-located tayo and alam nya ‘yung ating mga mutual defense treaties, visiting forces agreements and talagang nililigawan nya tayo mainly because of our geography,” Carlos said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer.
Carlos also said that the trade war between the United States (US) and China is a “win” for the Philippines because of deals with China.
“Naaambunan kasi tayo ng China-US trade war kung kaya’t parang ang China naghahanap ng katakut-takot na hektarya ng land para sa kanilang manufacturing base which will create jobs,” the political analyst said.
“’Yung trade war niya sa America, medyo magiging win tayo dyan dahil magshi-shift siya ng focus kung saan nya kukunin yung mga commodities. Some of them, pwedeng galing sa atin,” she added.
Carlos cited the P105-deal on the New Clark City industrial park where China will be developing 500 hectares of land, building factories and hiring Filipinos to be workers.
“They’re going to set a tap and they’re going to put up factories there, etc. and certainly they will not have Chinese workers there, they will have Filipino workers so panalo doon,” she said.
Carlos also said it’s another point for the Philippines in terms of intensified container inspection in ports as China’s technology is more advanced.
“That is great. That is a big-big kasi kasing-advanced na sila ng many other advanced economies tulad ng Singapore na kahit siguro daga makikita mo sa loob ng container van,” she said
“So wala nang karapatan sabihin ng mga tiwaling Customs na tela lang ang nandyan imbis na shabu or whatever,” she added.
Carlos, however, said that the “nitty gritty” of the deals with China is yet to happen and to be assessed but she said it’s a “good start.”
Asked of her opinion on Xi’s statement that we should do away with sovereignty and part of development, Carlos answered: “He’s talking from both sides of his mouth.
“Definitely, if we do away with sovereignty issues, eh ‘di tastasin niya ‘yung ginawa niyang artificial islands at alisin nya yung mga missiles directed to whoever. Gawin niya ‘yang research station para sa lahat ng scientist,” she said.
“Ang gandang pakinggan siya. But people who know what is happening on the ground know that he is talking from all sides of his mouth,” Carlos added.
Carlos advised the Duterte administration to polish the memorandum of agreement (MOA) and memorandum of understanding (MOU) so that it would be “part of the legal regime” and for the implementation to be smooth-flowing.
“Pagsikapan na ayusin yung mga nitty-gritty na ginawang memorandum of agreement at memorandum of understanding na yan para maestablish ‘yan as part of the legal regime,” Carlos said.
“I’m sure the Duterte administration is feeding up the Congress with their own bets para ma-push ‘yung federalism at ‘yung parliamentary system, yung sinasabi mong ownership issues na yan, so that ‘yung legal framework ay tamang tama para umunlad tayo at maging Number 1 in the region,” she said. /je
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