FOR Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, his outlook on the current administration of President Duterte, who just completed the first of his six-year stint in Malacañang, is an encouraging one.
The envoy said that from personal experience, the Philippine leader has been very successful in advancing the interests of the Philippines, as far as regional and international contexts are concerned.
“Mr. Duterte has been pursuing an independent foreign policy with the interests of the Philippines in mind, and has placed the country in a very good position to benefit from friendly relationship with all countries, particularly with the big powers and with Asean nations,” Zhao told the BusinessMirror during the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty from the UK to China.
“So, my comment is very good, very positive. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate him on the success of his independent foreign policy,” the Chinese diplomat said.
When the envoy, who stood out in the crowd in a dazzling, traditional Chinese silk shirt with mandarin collar, was asked whether it is China’s desire to solidify its alliance with the Philippines through joint military exercises, he said: “The US is the only country the Philippines has a solid alliance with.”
He furthered, “It is a fact the Philippines and the US have a military alliance as allies. And I think that is a decision by both the Philippine and the US governments. And this is something up to them to decide what to do with their relationship with their allies.”
“But I think President Duterte is pursuing an independent foreign policy and he bears in mind the interests of [your country], including its independence.”
“As you can see, the Philippines is trying to have friendly and cooperative relationship with all countries in the world, which will ultimately benefit it,” Zhao added.
In terms of contributing to the well-being of the Filipino people, he said the President’s independent foreign policy is proving to be effective.
Zhao’s reply is in reference to news reports that the Philippines is open to hold joint military exercises with China, as Manila seeks to quell the threat posed by Islamic State-linked fighters in Marawi City.
The Palace told that the Chief Executive is keen on enhancing the Philippines’s state of relations with China, particularly in the areas of security and defense.
Zhao cited his country’s donations of about 3,000 assault rifles, some sniper rifles and ammunition, valued around 50 million yuan ($7.35 million), which he thinks the Philippine military needs.
He said China would help the Philippines in its fight against terrorism, as Beijing was exploring the possibility of the Chinese military holding joint training and exercises, as well as intelligence sharing with the country’s armed forces.
“Terrorism is the enemy both China and the Philippines are facing. It requires our two militaries to further enhance cooperation in this area,” Zhao said, with reference to the turnover of the military assistance to the Philippines in Pampanga.
President Duterte recently said the arms deal “highlights the dawn of a new era in Philippine-Chinese relations”.
“World’s factory”
WHEN told the Philippines has been using American-made arms all these years, and that Chinese-supplied arms might not be compatible for the Philippine military, Zhao looks surprised: “Some say China is the world’s factory. We are proud of that.”
“We can produce all kinds of weapons. When we come to the assistance and help in the fight against terrorism, we can tailor-fit our support to the needs of the Philippines. The rifle and ammunitions, they are compatible with what [the Armed Forces of the Philippines] are using.”
On the other hand, as far as the South China Sea (SCS, or the West Philippine Sea) is concerned, Ambassador Zhao said, “China has never threatened to use [any kind of] force.”
“If the problem is too tough to solve, we leave it to the next generation; they are smarter,” he added with a wide grin.
According to Zhao, China and the Philippines will not back down on their position on sovereignty and sovereign rights, “but for diplomats, what we do is to find solutions”.
While the Philippines has always claimed sovereignty and sovereign rights with regards to that vast body of water, Zhao said that based on these principles, he sees a bright future “for our two countries, and for our two militaries to enhance cooperation in the fight against terrorism”.
“I think, fundamentally, it is in the interest of the Philippines to maintain stability and to place socioeconomic progress at the forefront, because stability is the requisite of everything.”
Determination vs terrorism
Zhao said as far as China is concerned, they share the President’s determination in fighting terrorism.
“I think in his mind, he really cares about the well-being of the Philippines as a nation and the Philippines as a country. No country will tolerate anything like that [the terrorist attacks in Marawi City]. We are glad we are friends and partners and as relatives, we can, through cooperation, contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Philippines.”
He said that since President Duterte visited China last year, the two sides have resumed their military-to-military contact and cooperation as both parties have already entered a new phase of dialogue and cooperation.
“I think it is important for the two militaries to exchange best practices, share intelligence and even consider the possibility of joint-training exercises,” he added, saying “because it is in the interest not only of China and the Philippines, but also of the region—for us to deal effectively with the threat of terrorism.”
Updating the media on Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano’s visit to China, Zhao said: “The agenda is very clear: the enhancement of relations between China and the Philippines.
“I think Secretary Cayetano is doing a very good job, and the Chinese side attaches great importance to his first official visit to China. He is meeting with Chinese leaders, and he had very good conversations with his counterpart, Wang Yi.”
When asked what agreements would be signed, Zhao said he is certain “there will be significant interests on enhancing our relationship.”
The Chinese envoy admitted that maritime concerns would be a major topic of discussion.
“China and the Philippines have already established a bilateral channel between the two ministries of foreign affairs to talk about the SCS and related issues. We would hope it would be a friendly and candid exchange of views.”
Growing exchange
TRADE and commerce would also be included in the conversations, as China has interests in importing more tropical fruits from the country, “which will significantly benefit Filipino farmers”, Zhao told this reporter.
Asked how much of the produce China is willing to buy from the Philippines, Zhao smiled and replied, “[We are] a huge market. Whatever you produce, you can find a market in our country. The problem is not the price, but the quantity [of supply], considering our vast demand.”
On another matter, Ambassador Zhao said the money used by a fellow Chinese to build a local drug-rehabilitation center is the businessman’s own money. He added it has nothing to do with the allegation of corruption being leveled against billionaire Huang Ru Lun.
The first mega rehab facility was inaugurated in Nueva Ecija late last year. President Duterte announced earlier another one is in the works for Mindanao.
“Because we share the same objective, I think Duterte and his administration understand, to see a clean government. Apart from that, Huang, the businessman, did donate a certain amount of money in his efforts to help the Filipino people to deal with drug problems.”
When asked to comment on Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s book, translated into Chinese reportedly to let the young Chinese people know the real story of the South China Sea, Zhao had this to say.
“You know, China and the Philippines…have different understandings, we have different positions. It is a fact. I think [for Filipinos,] they can all express their positions with their knowledge and their understanding of the [differences] we have.”
“[B]ut we have to stick to the principle of peaceful solutions because it is not in Chinas interests, [and the Philippines’s] to settle this by other means,” he explained.
“So we have to put [the issue] in the proper context. These are the issues that happened in the past. It has been there for several decades, but we can see something that we need to handle in a peaceful manner, that we can maximize all the benefits of the relationship between our two countries,” Zhao noted.
Celebrating Hong Kong
Meanwhile, in his speech, Zhao said, “Over the past 20 years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [HKSAR] has been enjoying continued stability and prosperity. It successfully withstood the Asian financial upheavals and the global financial crisis, [while having] sustained economic strength.
“[As] the sixth-largest exporter of merchandise trade and 15th-largest [global] exporter of commercial services, it is crowned, ‘The world’s most competitive economy.’”
Since Hong Kong returned to its motherland China 20 years ago, he said the Chinese Central Government has been committed to earnestly implement the policy and principles of “One Country, Two Systems”; “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong”; and “high degree of autonomy”.
“At the same time, we also witnessed the steady advance of rule-based democratic governance in HKSAR. [Its] people have enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights and greater freedom than ever before.”
He added that in the past, Hong Kong was a window for China to get connected with the world.
“[Now], Hong Kong becomes a reflecting mirror to showcase China’s development to the world.”
“We are quite confident that under the One Country, Two Systems principle, and with consistent support from the central government, Hong Kong will further develop its unique advantages and enjoy more sustainable and greater prosperity,” Zhao said of HKSAR’s future.
He noted that as the nearest major international city to Manila, Hong Kong has long been an important trading partner to the Philippines, aside from the fact that there are approximately 200,000 Filipinos residing there.
The Chinese ambassador declared, “Ever since Duterte took office, China-Philippines relations have entered into a new era of comprehensive development. HKSAR will be in a better position to enhance its cooperation with the Philippines and contribute even more to the overall development of the relations between both [nations].”
Image credits: Jimbo Albano, Presidential Photo