China to Philippines: Know real friends, reliable partners

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian has raised the Philippines' need for COVID-19 vaccines to make a point about the friendship between the two countries and how certain nations had been trying to drive a wedge between them.

At the virtual Vaccine Summit of the Philippines International Chamber of Commerce and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, Huang said the other countries didn't care about the Philippines' anxiety.

“Certain countries, while looking at Philippines' anxiety of vaccine need with indifference, tried to sow discord by taking advantage of the differences between China and the Philippines," Huang said.

“We should stay alert. Tougher the time is, wider our eyes open. We would eventually know who the real friends and reliable partners are,” he added.

Huang made the remarks amid the presence of Chinese warships and over 200 militia vessels in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea said the militia presence could mean 240 tons of lost fish on a daily basis.

However, China has also already provided the Philippines with 3.5 million doses of Sinovac's Coronavac vaccine.

Tens of millions of Sinovac doses are also already in the pipeline to inoculate more Filipinos before the end of 2021.

As for the other countries which have weighed in on the Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea,  Manila’s Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez has said the US had been waiting for its treaty ally the Philippines to ask for assistance as regards the Chinese incursion.

The European Union, on the other hand, said on Saturday that the presence of large Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef endangered regional peace and stability.

The Union went on to urge all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including its dispute settlement mechanisms.

The EU recalled the arbitration award rendered under UNCLOS on July 12, 2016 and which invalidated China's massive claims and upheld the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

China doesn't recognize the arbitral award.

Huang said China and the Philippines were neighbors that could be moved away.

"For neighbors, it is normal to have differences,” Huang said.

“What matters is that we handle them in a mature and constructive manner. This serves the mutual benefits of our countries and meets the common aspiration of our people,” he added.

Latest developments showed that Chinese vessels were still occupying islands covering the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

Even after facing multiple diplomatic protests, China dismissed the 2016 ruling that favored Philippines' claims.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines will not wage war against China because the country owed its neighbor a huge debt of gratitude.

“I believe that through solidarity and mutual assistance we will prevail over the pandemic and embrace a brighter future. I also believe that China-Philippines friendship and cooperation will withstand the test of time,” Huang said.

The envoy said that so far, 3.5 million doses of Chinese vaccines have arrived in the Philippines, and another two million doses procured by the Philippine government will arrive soon in May.

“China always values promise and integrity. We Chinese people always mean what we say,” Huang said.

“And we also firmly believe that a friend in need is a friend indeed, and time will tell,” he added. --NB, GMA News