Philippines can’t be too dependent on China, says ES Bersamin

The Philippines should not be too dependent on China amid the issues in the West Philippine Sea, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said on Thursday.

In a Facebook interview with Anthony Taberna, Bersamin was asked if the Philippines could leave without China.

"I cannot second guess what the President wants to do. I cannot second guess what our foreign policy should be in relation to China," Bersamin said.

"It will be enough for me to say that we are dealing with these issues diplomatically, it is still possible for us to go with China," he added.

"But about this economic viability, our relations or the dimensions, the economic dimensions if we were to go against China, alam mo hindi natin puwedeng sabihin na dependent tayo sa China," Bersamin said.

(We cannot say that we are dependent on China.)

"China might be our trading partner or supplier or it gives us some products that we may really need but we should not be too dependent on China. I don't think China will even want us to be dependent on her," he added.

Bersamin made the remark days after the Philippine Coast Guard removed the floating barrier its Chinese counterpart placed at the entrance of the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

China has reacted by saying the Philippine side should not make any provocative action in the area.

The Asian superpower is claiming almost the entire South China Sea despite the 2016 arbitral ruling which upheld the Philippines' exclusive economic zone over China's historical claims.

The Philippines is considering the filing of another complaint before a tribunal after the PCG discovered damaged corals in an area of the West Philippine Sea frequented by Chinese militia ships.

Bersamin said China knew that the Philippines' approach when it came to its foreign relations was multilateral.

The executive secretary confirmed that the order to remove the floating barriers came from the President.

"Pagka gano'ng utos direct na binibigay ni Presidente yan after conferring with officials who are concerned with the matter. Hindi namin pwede ireveal kung paano... but that decision making process was put in place and they met and the decision was made, was reached to go there..." Bersamin said. —NB, GMA Integrated News