Zubiri: Boycott Chinese goods, companies

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri. Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday suggested a boycott of all Chinese companies and products as a sign of protest against its continued harassment in Philippine waters.

Like Vietnam, Zubiri said the Philippines should start looking for other trading partners instead of relying on China.

“Maghanap din po tayo ng ibang trading partners kung saan mapalago natin at mapaganda natin ang ekonomiya ng ating bansa na hindi po tayo dependent sa China, hindi po tayo nakasandal sa China para sa ating mga produkto,” he said in an interview over Radyo 630.

(Let’s also look for other trading partners where we can grow and improve our country’s economy so that we are not dependent on China and we don’t rely on China for our products)

He said the Philippines may reopen its free trade agreements with countries like the United States, European Union, Australia, New Zealand and the Southeast Asian countries.

“Para sa ganun i-boycott na lang natin yung mga Chinese-made products, i-boycott na lang natin yung Chinese companies na pumapasok dito para ipakita natin ang galit natin sa kanila sa ganoong paraan.

(So we can just boycott the Chinese-made products, the Chinese companies coming in here to show our anger towards them in that way.)

A lawmaker had made the same call against China before.

In 2011, then-governor and now Albay Representative Joey Salceda called on Filipinos to boycott Chinese products due to Beijing’s bullying.

Just this Monday, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros joined calls to ban the Chinese Communication Construction Company (CCCC), a state-owned Chinese company in the Philippines, from the country.

All these calls were in response to China’s water cannon attack on the Philippine vessels delivering supplies to Filipino troops stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

JMS/abc