Did China really threaten the Philippines with war after President Duterte asserted the Southeast Asian nation’s sovereignty over disputed territory in the West Philippine Sea? If so, then Foreign Affairs Secretary Cayetano should issue a diplomatic protest for this threat.

We also support Sen. Bam Aquino’s Senate Resolution 158 from October last year calling on the Senate committees on foreign relations and economic affairs to conduct a hearing, in aid of legislation, on the foreign policy direction of the government with the end view of protecting our national interest.

The hearing should tackle not only this issue, but also the details of the $24-billion loans and investments recently sealed with China, as well as the Duterte administration’s decision to reject aid from the European Union.

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Totoo bang pinagbantaan ng China ang Pilipinas ng giyera matapos igiit ng Pangulong Duterte ang soberanya natin sa pinagtatalunang teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea? Kung gayon, dapat mag-isyu si Foreign Affairs Secretary Cayetano ng diplomatic protest para sa pananakot na ito.

Sinusuportahan din namin ang Senate Resolution 158 ni Sen. Bam Aquino na nilabas noong Oktubre ng nakaraang taon na magsagawa ang mga komite ng Senado sa foreign relations at economic affairs ng isang pagdinig, in aid of legislation, tungkol sa direksyon ng patakarang panlabas ng gobyerno na naglalayong protektahan ang ating mga pambansang interes.

Bukod sa isyung ito, dapat ding tugunan ng pagdinig ang mga detalye ng $24-bilyong pautang at pamumuhunan ng China na kailan lang ay pinagtibay, pati na rin desisyon ng pamunuang Duterte na tanggihan ang 250 million euros na aid mula sa European Union.

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