China on Tuesday, September 1, defended projects in the Philippines involving Chinese firms, saying all initiatives would continue as they were conducted “in compliance with the existing laws and regulations.” 

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian made the statement in a radio show on Tuesday, following Malacañang’s announcement that all projects under the Duterte administrations flagship infrastructure program would continue “regardless of which Chinese contractor is involved” as it was of “national interest.”  

“The pragmatic cooperation between China and the Philippines has always been based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results, and all projects are all conducted in compliance with the existing laws and regulations,” Huang said. 

‘National interest’

Earlier on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte decided that all infrastructure projects with China would continue as the Philippines “needs those investments from China.”

Duterte’s decision clashed with Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin’s Jr’s earlier recommendation to terminate contracts with Chinese firms sanctioned for aiding China’s controversial island-building campaign in the South China Sea. 

Locsin made the recommendation after the United States’ recent move to sanction several Chinese firms involved in the reclamation and militarization of the disputed waterway. 

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“What the President said was clear: He will not follow the directives of Americans because we are a free and independent nation and we need those investments from China…. We are not a vassal state of any foreign power,” Roque said in a mix of English and Filipino. 

Huang said Beijing backed Duterte’s decision to continue projects and put the Philippines’ national interest first. 

“We believe that the pursuit of an independent foreign policy is in line with the fundamental interests of the Philippines and its people,” Huang said, adding “any attempt to undermine the normal economic cooperation between China and the Philippines will never succeed.”

China’s latest statement further cemented the burgeoning economic ties between the two countries under the Duterte administration. Duterte, however, has been criticized for downplaying Beijing’s illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea in exchange for loans and grants from Beijing.

Among projects in the Philippines involving Chinese firms is the Sangley International Airport project in Cavite which is under China Airport Construction Corporation. The project had been hounded by accusations of a “rushed” selection process and bidding documents that showed “subjective criteria.”

CACC is a subsidiary of China Construction & Communications Corporation (CCCC), one of China’s largest state-run infrastructure firms which was reported to have been involved in China’s reclamation of maritime features in the South China Sea and its construction of military bases on features within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. – Rappler.com