Press Release
November 20, 2018

STOP KOWTOWING TO CHINA, ASSERT PHILIPPINE SOVEREIGNTY

*Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Philippines

Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Philippines is an important political test of President Rodrigo Duterte's political leadership in asserting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially in the West Philippine Sea.

Now is the perfect time for President Duterte to demonstrate to the public what he is really made of. Dito masusubukan ang tapang ng Pangulo. Patuloy ba siyang magiging sunod-sunuran sa Tsina o magpapakita siya ng lakas ng loob para ipaglaban ang ating bansa at teritoryo?

President Duterte likes to project himself as a tough-talking, strong leader. But all of this is empty bravado if he continues to kowtow before China and endanger our territorial integrity by doing nothing to defend the West Philippine Sea. Hindi pupwedeng sa maliliit at mahihirap na Pilipino lang siya mabagsik at matapang pero duwag naman sa harap ng dayuhan.

The President must exhibit a solid stance in defending the sovereign interest of the Filipino people by asserting the country's victory at The Hague, reject any proposal for a joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea that doesn't fully recognize our sovereignty and territorial integrity in the said region and decline any loan agreement that will plunge the country into a new debt trap.

Ang kailangan ng bansa ay isang patriyotiko at matatag na pinuno hindi isang duwag na pangulo.

News Latest News Feed