AFP chief distances on blacklisting of China firms involved in SCS militarization

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay faces a panel of the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday, September 2, 2020. (Alexis Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said that it will not tinker with the issue of whether government should proceed with contracts entered with Chinese firms that were found involved in China’s militarization of the South China Sea.

During his confirmation hearing at the Commission on Appointments, AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said that discussions on the termination of contracts with Chinese firms is “beyond the purview” of the AFP.

“Designating or choosing [the] construction companies for ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects is beyond our purview,” Gapay said on the questioning of Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato.

Sato had asked Gapay if he would also recommend ending contracts with Chinese companies involved in reclamation activities in the highly-contested waterway, similar to what Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. had previously said he would do.

“I think concerned agencies like the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and the DOTr (Department of Transportation) are the agencies which are in the best position to answer,” the AFP chief said.

Further, he said that the projects entered into by the government went through a process under the country’s existing procurement laws.

“All of these are governed by the government procurement act, Republic Act No. 9184, and I believe that awarding of such projects to these contractors have passed through this process and we’re subjected to the provisions of R.A. 9184,” he added.

Nevertheless, Sato reminded Gapay that the issue concerning these Chinese companies affects the country’s security.

“These issues also have repercussions on our security concerns of the nation. It is just a question whether you would join in the recommendation of the secretary of foreign affairs for blacklisting,” the lawmaker said.

Earlier, the US announced sanctions against several Chinese firms involved in Beijing’s island-building in the South China Sea.

Following this, Locsin remarked that he would “strongly” recommend ending local contracts with Chinese firms which had a hand in China’s reclamation activities.

However,  Malacañang said all Chinese-backed projects will push through in the Philippines despite the move of the US to blacklist two dozen Chinese state-owned firms involved in the massive reclamation of Philippine-owned islets in the South China Sea.

EDV