Honasan: Alliance with Asian nations best PH alternative to deal with shoal dispute

Senator Gregorio Honasan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Gregorio Honasan II on Tuesday called for better alliance between the Philippines and other Asian countries and countries amid the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China.

In a press briefing at the Senate, Honasan said that simple bilateral talks with China will not be effective since the Philippines has no capability to face-off with China hence developing leverage from allies is the best alternative.

“Kung bilateral tayo, wala tayong kalaban-laban, I mean, against a country like China. Unawain din natin ang position ng China dahil you always negotiate from a position of perceived or real strength. Tayo, perceived or real, kulang tayo ng power (We have to understand China’s position because you always negotiate from a position of perceived or real strength. Us, perceived or real, we lack power),” Honasan said.

The senator made the comment when asked by reporters about his stand on suggestions that bilateral talks with China are sufficient rather than involving third-party countries in a huddle with Beijing officials.

“It means we have to develop more leverage from our regional and bilateral alliances,” Honasan added.

Honasan said that in his view, the United States is the best and most effective third party in this territorial dispute. He added that the recent call of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Association of South East Asian Nations to take a stand on the China-Philippines dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) has opened the matter to the international community.

Honasan added that the Philippines should conduct an audit of all bilateral and multilateral economic arrangements in order to determine which ones are still effective and may be useful in the situation we are in now.

However, Honasan said that “this is not a simple issue” adding that other diplomatic initiatives should not be abandoned.

“Dapat marami tayong initiative including a backdoor diplomatic initiative with China itself para malaman kung paano tayo magkakatulungan imbis na ganitong girian (We should have many initiatives including a backdoor diplomatic initiative with China itself so we will know how we can help each other instead of constantly clashing with Beijing,)” Honasan said.

He said that the Philippines might consider embarking in joint exploration projects with other claimant countries, including China, in the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea.