No economic retaliation vs China – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is not inclined to resort to economic retaliation against China amid heated exchanges between Philippine officials and the Chinese embassy, Malacañang said on Tuesday, stressing that the government would continue to pursue diplomatic channels.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said the Marcos administration maintains that trade and investment relations with China should be separate from the country’s efforts to defend its maritime rights.

“That is not how our President thinks. The President does not approach the issue like children who are quarreling. The President and the administration are negotiating and engaging in discussions with the leadership of other countries through diplomatic channels,” Castro said at a media briefing in Cagayan de Oro City when asked whether the government was considering a retaliatory ban on nickel or other products from Surigao del Sur to China.

Castro maintained that the Philippines and China continue to cooperate in areas related to the economy, trade and investment.

“The President would not consider that kind of retaliation, as we know that China and the Philippines are helping each other in areas related to the economy, trade and investment,” she said.

An Oct. 22 report by Chinese media said Beijing was planning to impose sanctions on Filipino lawmakers over their alleged anti-China remarks.

Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Victor Lim earlier urged government officials to reconsider plans to impose sanctions on Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, warning that retaliation from Beijing could further harm the Philippine economy.

Tarriela faces cyberlibel raps

Amid the tensions over China policy and the West Philippine Sea, former national security adviser Clarita Carlos has filed a cyberlibel complaint against Philippine Coast Guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela and Philippine Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael Logico.

The complaint followed a public exchange between Carlos and Tarriela over their positions on China and the West Philippine Sea.

Carlos had criticized Tarriela’s public statements, calling him a “troublemaker” and urging him to stop speaking publicly.

Tarriela responded in a social media post, questioning Carlos’ record as national security adviser and accusing her of failing to do enough to defend Philippine maritime rights during her tenure. –  Mark Ernest Villeza