Philippines
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'Show China we mean business': Gordon urges gov't to deter aggression in WPS
'Show China we mean business': Gordon urges gov't to deter aggression in WPS
Former senator Richard Gordon called on the government to take measures to deter China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
"We have to show China that we mean business and the quickest way to do that is to have credible defenses like F-16s, bigger Coast Guard ships, or thousands of smaller boats to engage China," Gordon said in a statement on Saturday, Dec. 16.
The former senator emphasized that despite discussions spanning 30 years about the modernization of the defense system, tangible progress in this regard has yet to materialize.
"We should have the capability to launch missiles from air to ship,” Gordon said.
The most recent incident is part of a series of skirmishes between the Philippines and China in recent months.
Chinese vessels from its coast guards fired water cannons at Philippine supply ships in the Scarborough Shoal on Dec. 9. This incident occurred a few weeks after China executed two assertive actions against the Philippine Coast Guard.
'Nobody can help us but ourselves'
Moreover, Gordon emphasized that "nobody can help us but ourselves (Philippines)."
"The Ukrainians did not rely on their allies. The same with the Israelis," he said, referring to the recent massive disputes that took place months ago where both countries were involved.
"The Filipinos must show that we are ready to fight, that we intend to fight – to defend our territory and fishermen,” he added.
Meanwhile, the chief emphasized that the country should tighten its belts and allocate funds to education, the military, agriculture, and other sectors.
"That will further bolster the economy and help us save the money to equip our forces with a credible and effective suite of defense equipment,” Gordon said.
Furthermore, Gordon cited Vietnam as an example in 1979, illustrating how "China does not hesitate to use force, as demonstrated when it killed" in that country.
"The West Philippine Sea, he said, rightly belongs to the Philippines and the countries must abide by that law," he said.
Moreover, he emphasized that China's assertive stance is causing concern among Western businesses considering the possibility of offshoring some of their operations to the Philippines.
“The aggression is a common concern among countries whose ships pass by that body of water, especially those going to the Middle East and passing through the Philippines,” he said.
“Strengthening relations with Indonesia and Vietnam is important. We need to reinforce our presence and work together for common interest," he added.