Restore trade ties with China, Phl urged

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is advised to consider focusing on restoring normal trade relations with China as it seeks to find a win-win solution on the conflict over Panatag shoal, experts said.

Chito Sta. Romana, former Beijing bureau chief of ABC News, told the Makati Business Club (MBC)’s General Membership Meeting yesterday that the Philippines’ relations with China are at its lowest point.

Amid the tensions over Panatag (Scarborough) shoal in the West Philippine Sea, Sta. Romana said it would be best to work on restoring trade ties while looking at ways to resolve the issue.

“Generally, I think we have to accept that the issue of sovereignty is a tough one to address. It is a problem that we cannot solve immediately, so what we have to do is to put national sovereignty if possible on the back burner and try to normalize ties again,” Sta. Romana said.

“The immediate goal is to restore normal tourism and normal trade ties, to restore banana trade and flow of tourists,” he said.

A standoff between the Philippines and China started earlier this year as two Chinese surveillance ships prevented the Philippine Navy from arresting Chinese fishermen caught poaching off the shoal.

Amid tensions over the shoal, Chinese travel agencies suspended tour packages to the Philippines.

Chinese authorities also restricted the entry of fruits from the Philippines in claiming to have found pests on some of the shipments.

Engaging China in all spheres of diplomacy will be needed to resolve the issue given the prevailing climate of opinion, Sta. Romana said.