Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers blasted China for going back to its meddling ways, particularly with the Philippines' plan to acquire mid-range missiles and other armaments from the United States (US).

At the same time, Barbers, the lead chairman of the House quad-committee (quad-comm) expressed his full support to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro over this move.

According to Barbers, the Chinese government and its leaders have no business or moral ascendancy to meddle to what the Philippine government does or wants to do in its effort to upgrade and accelerate its military capability.

For him, China is once again employing its its bullying tactics by criticizing the Marcos government’s actions and decisions to protect its territory and sovereignty. 

“The Filipino people, including Senators and Congressmen, should rally and voice out their support to Secretary Gibo Teodoro for standing up against the whims and caprices of the China government and its leaders,” the veteran lawmaker from Mindanao said. 

“Sobra nang pakikialam ang ginagawa ng China sa ating bansa at dapat magkaisa at sama-sama tayong lahat na Filipino na pigilin at tuligsain ang kanilang mga makasariling layunin sa loob at labas ng bansa, partikular na sa West Philippine Sea (WPS),” he added. 

(China is doing too much meddling with other countries, and we Filipinos must all take a stand to put a stop and criticize their selfish purpose in and out of our country, particularly the WPS.)

Barbers said China’s warning that Manila’s planned weapons upgrade could intensify geopolitical confrontations and trigger a regional arms race can be labeled as “political BS”.

He echoed the logical reasoning of Teodoro, and said that if China really wanted to reduce tensions and instability in the Southeast Asia region, “It should cease their saber rattling, stop their provocative actions, halt their interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and withdraw their illegal presence inside the country’s 200-mile [exclusive] economic zone (EEZ) and adhere to international law like the UNCLOS decisions.” 

UNCLOS stands for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Beijing had ratified. 

Teodoro also accused the Communist Party of China (CPC) of expanding its nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile capability, sponsoring criminal syndicates and subversive organizations beyond its borders like POGOs in the Philippines, and refusing to uphold human rights within China.

“Lahat ng sinabi ni Secretary Gibo ay tama at masakit na patama sa China dahil ang lahat ng ito ay totoo. Kahit ano pang gawin ng China propaganda bureau na naka-base sa loob at labas ng ating bansa ay di kayang pasinungalingan ang mga sinabi ni Gibo,” Barbers said. 

(Everything that Secretary Gibo said was true and therefore hit China where it hurts. The China propaganda bureau that operates in and out of our country cannot debunk what Gibo is saying.)