Let’s not be intimidated, bullied again by China — Dela Rosa

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should not be intimidated and bullied again by China, this time over the issue of more Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites in the country, a senator said on Monday.

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the Philippines is just honoring its commitment under the Edca when it agreed with the opening of more locations for US military use.

“Sinundan lang natin yung commitment natin (We are just following our commitment). We have a commitment with the United States, ‘yung pag-implement ng (to implement) Edca, so we have to honor our commitment,” Dela Rosa, who heads the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said in an interview with reporters.

“Hindi nila tayo pwedeng diktahan. Same is true with the United States. We are just honoring our commitment, pero ‘wag nilang tingnan na talagang they can do everything they want here,” he added.

(They can’t dictate over us. The same is true with the United States. We are just honoring our commitment, but they should not think that they do everything they want here.)

China, through its embassy in Manila, earlier warned the Philippines against adding more sites, saying these would drag the country into “the Taiwan question” and would endanger peace and stability in the region.

This concern was echoed by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning after Manila identified last week the new Edca sites: the Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, both in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province.

“The comments on the locations of the new military bases also speak to the concern shared by many insightful people in the Philippines, who worry that this may draw their country into the whirlpool of a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait,” Mao was quoted as saying in news reports.

READ: China stages drills off Taiwan, warns PH anew on Edca

Dela Rosa, however, believes that the latest statement was just meant to discourage the Philippines from honoring its commitment to the US.

“Kanilang mga diskarte ‘yan, but hindi tayo magpapatinag sa kanila,” he said.

(That’s their strategy, but we will not be intimidated by them.)

“Bakit ba, matagal na man nilang ginagawa ‘yung ginagawa nilang pangbu-bully sa atin, bakit pa tayo magpa-additional bully coming from them?”

(Why? They have been bullying us for a long time. Why should we allow them to bully us again?)

“Gawin natin ang dapat nating gawin dito. Huwag tayong magpa-bully sa kanila, wag tayong magpatakot sa kanila,” the senator also said.

(Let’s do what we must do. Let’s not allow ourselves to be bullied by them; let’s not be intimidated by them.)

For Dela Rosa, Filipinos should not worry about the recent military drills conducted by China around Taiwan.

“Hanggat hindi makaabot sa atin yung bala nila, there’s no cause for concern. Kung ‘yung bala ay nag-landing na sa ating teritoryo, then ma-concern na tayo,” he said.

(As long as their bullet doesn’t reach us, there’s no cause for concern. If the bullet lands on our territory, then we should be concerned.)

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