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Donated vaccines not meant to soften China incursions –Philippine envoy
By HANA BORDEY, GMA News The Chinese government’s donation of 1 million COVID-19 vaccines is not meant to soften the Philippines’ stance on maritime incursions in the West Philippine Sea, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana said Saturday.
In a public briefing, Sta. Romana said that the territorial disputes and vaccine cooperation should be taken as two different matters.
The diplomat explained that the Philippines will move forward and fast-track the cooperation with China in pandemic response including the cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines.
On the other hand, he maintained that the Philippines will stand its ground and will protest if needed on sovereignty differences and disputes against China.
“So look at it as two separate tracks... Otherwise, magiging one-track mind…at iisipin mo na dahil kumukuha ka ng bakuna nagkakaroon kayo ng kooperasyon sa bakuna, ibibigay naman ang sovereignty,” Sta. Romana explained.
(So look at it as two separate tracks. Otherwise, we'll have a one-track mind and see the vaccine cooperation with China as us trading in our sovereignty.)
“No, this is exactly the distinguishing mark of our policy. We cooperate when we can, but we stand our ground when we should and that is what we are doing now,” he added.
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Last Wednesday, retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio claimed that China’s vaccine donations are meant to “soften the blow” of maritime incursions in the WPS.
“It is possible that China is encroaching on our maritime zone but softening it by sending us vaccines, by donating to us vaccines. It’s part of their PR (public relations) effort to soften the blow,” Carpio said in an interview with ANC.
“They are trying to appease us by sending us vaccines. We should not fall for that.”
So far, the Philippines received 1 million doses of Sinovac jabs from the Chinese government as donations.
One million doses of the same vaccine brand procured by the national government are set to arrive in the country next week.
Last December, Malacañang downplayed concerns that China could put pressure on developing countries such as the Philippines on geopolitical issues, in exchange for vaccines. — DVM, GMA News