Ridon points to overlap between Duterte, China ‘defenders’
MANILA, Philippines — Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon on Sunday said those defending the Duterte political family appeared to be aligned with China, pointing to a possible overlap between pro-Duterte online networks and narratives supporting Beijing.
“The defenders of the Dutertes are the same ones defending China, aren’t they?” Ridon said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, written in Filipino.
His remarks came amid a sharp exchange between Philippine lawmakers and the Chinese Embassy, which followed Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s statement that China “may easily win” a conflict but chooses not to because “we love peace.” The Department of Foreign Affairs described the remark as a “thinly veiled threat.”
READ: China threatens to bar more PH officials if envoy gets expelled
China claims nearly all of the South China Sea under its nine-dash line, based on a map dating to the 1940s. The claims extend into Southeast Asian waters and overlap with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines and neighboring countries, including Vietnam and Malaysia.
The Philippines brought its maritime dispute with China before a United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal in 2013. The tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s sweeping maritime claims had no legal basis. China, however, has refused to recognize the ruling.
In a separate statement, former Surigao del Sur Rep. Robert Ace Barbers questioned whether China was exploiting Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial to expand its influence in the West Philippine Sea.
“Is China simply pursuing its aggressive maritime agenda, or is it also taking advantage of our political divisions to weaken our resolve? These are questions our national security officials must examine,” he said.
Barbers cautioned that the country’s focus on internal political matters could divert attention from external threats.
“China could benefit if the impeachment controversy deepens divisions among Filipinos and distracts the public from developments in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. /das
