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Marcos Jr. just rebalancing policy after Duterte’s ‘pivot’ to China — Romualdez

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Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. only rebalanced the country’s foreign relations from the Duterte administration’s China pivot, according to House Speaker Martin Romualdez as he defended policy on the West Philippine Sea.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Philippines has ramped up engagement with the US and with security partners like the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Japan who have stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and of international law in the tense waters. </p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Si President [Bongbong Marcos], ano ang sinasabi? I am a friend to all and an enemy to none. Hindi naman nag-pivot ‘yan sa US eh. Binalanse lang niya. Kasi ‘yung dating administrasyon, ‘yan ang pivot. ‘Di ba?“ Romualdez said in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo’s “Gising Pilipinas”.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/31/marcos-says-us-presence-crucial-to-regional-peace-2256">READ: Marcos Jr. says US presence crucial to regional peace</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The previous administration had sought closer relations with China and Russia under what it called its independent foreign policy, with then President Rodrigo Duterte declaring in a visit to China in 2016 a “separation” from the US. </p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Sabi pa ng dating President, maging probinsya na lang tayo ng China, happy tayo lahat. Papayag ba tayo maging Tsino na lang tayo? Hindi naman siguro,” Romualdez said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Marcos Jr. last Sunday urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to continue defending the nation, just as he said that the Philippines &quot;would not instigate wars&quot; nor yield to any foreign power.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">He issued the statement nearly a week since China’s latest maritime aggression during the Philippines’ resupply mission at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, which saw a sailor lose his right thumb.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Romualdez urged China to deescalate tension in the disputed waters, adding that a “community of nations” is supporting the Philippines.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Sa totoo lang po, mali ang China. Mali ang ginagawa ng China. Siguro alam naman ng lahat ‘yung arbitral ruling. ‘Yung buong mundo kasama natin. Paano tayo magkakamali diyan?” he said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Siyempre lalo namang mali ang China, binu-bully lang tayo. Nanunubok kung aatras ba tayo o hindi. But we have the community of nations supporting us. We are getting multilateral support. Magpapa-bully ba tayo? Hindi dapat.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">  </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Romualdez allayed concerns that tension in the West Philippine Sea could lead to a war. He added that China would risk being a “pariah” if its military attacks the Philippines.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><strong>EDCA SITES</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Romualdez also defended the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines, which are seen by some to be compromising the Philippines’ sovereignty and making the country a target of attacks by the United States&#x27; geopolitical rivals.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">(30:37) “Kung ‘yung freedom of navigation ay maayos, magkakaroon ba tayo ng EDCA sites? Pero ‘yung isang treaty partner, ang US, nagvo-volunteer na aayusin niya ‘yung military bases natin for interoperability. Pero sa totoo lang ‘yung bases na ‘yan… hindi naman para sa territorial o external threats,” he said, adding the facilities are more often used for disaster response.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The EDCA is an accord signed between the Philippines and the US in 2014 that deepens the defense cooperation of the Mutual Defense Treaty.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">In 2016, the Philippines and the US agreed on five initial sites on which both sides will construct facilities and preposition equipment. The selection of the EDCA sites is in accordance with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Strategic Basing Plan.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/03/23/philippines-names-4-sites-for-us-military-use">RELATED: Philippines names 4 sites for US military use</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the resumption of its nuclear-capable missile production, after claiming the United States had brought similar missiles to the Philippines. </p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers raised doubts on Putin’s claim, tagging it as “propaganda”.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Romualdez said that the lower house is eyeing giving the Department of National Defense a bigger budget next year because of external threats.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The increased funding can be used to improve facilities on Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"> </div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Basta paghandaan natin ang facilities, at kailangan din niyan ng budget. ‘Yan ang isang malaking parte ng budget na kailangan ng ating Armed Forces,” the House Speaker said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/28/consistency-a-challenge-for-west-philippine-sea-policy-geopolitical-analyst-1235">READ: Consistency a challenge for West Philippine Sea policy — geopolitical analyst</a></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. only re-balanced the country’s foreign relations from the Duterte administration’s China pivot, according to House Speaker Martin Romualdez as he defended policy on the West Philippine Sea.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. only re-balanced the country’s foreign relations from the Duterte administration’s China pivot, according to House Speaker Martin Romualdez as he defended policy on the West Philippine Sea.