‘Wag na lumaban! Lucy Torres warns: Angering China will have economic impact

By Billy Begas

Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez on Monday expressed fear of possible economic backlash if the Philippines continue to agitate China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.

Torres-Gomez said the people should look at the broader picture on what will happen if the country continues to agitate, and even anger, China.

“There are economic repercussions if we continue to insist that China give in to our demand for them to get off our waters. Let us not forget that China is the Philippines’ biggest export and import partner,” Torres-Gomez said.

She said in March 2021, the Philippines exported $1.8 billion and imported $1.2 billion to and from China.

“Our economic ties are both our strength and vulnerability. We are not even talking about loans or vaccines,” she pointed out.

In 2012 amid the stand-off in the Scarborough Shoal, the Philippines experienced China’s economic backlash when it refused banana exports from the Philippines. The move resulted in the loss of $34 million in revenues, which badly hurt the agriculture sector, particularly banana farmers and plantation workers.

“If in the distant likelihood that we succeed in driving away China’s military vessels out of our EEZ and the WPS, are we prepared to face the economic counterattack that China is likely to use to get back at us? Is our economy ready for the backlash, especially amid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our fiscal standing?” Torres-Gomez asked.

The WPS is more complex than just presenting a legal award from an international body, Torres-Gomez added.

“The question is: How much more aggressive must our government be? In this David vs. Goliath situation, things are far from simplistic. For those who are quick to say that aggression is not necessarily an invitation to war, the truth is China does not have to fire a single shot to hurt us,” the lady solon pointed out.

Torres-Gomez suggested that the government appeal for status quo in the region.

“Let us appeal to China and our neighbor countries to stand down and momentarily set aside our respective claims on the WPS. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to batter all of us. Let us give each other the space and time to address the global health crisis first. Let us give each other time to heal,” Torres-Gomez said.

But she said the government should continue guarding the country’s sovereign rights and improve it by patrolling and modernong the Philippine Coast Guards.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)