MALACAÑANG categorically warded off fears over reports of an exchange deal that would see the West Philippine Sea compromised for a chunk of China-made vaccines.
Responding to a paper published by a Singapore-based research institute, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said there is a very slim chance that China would pressure the Philippines [and other poor countries] to cave in to geo-political demands, in exchange for the supply of vaccines against COVID-19.
Yusof Ishak Institute of Singapore earlier hinted that China may use its vaccine supply to pressure leaders of poor countries to give in to their demands – including that of territories, specifically the disputed West Philippine Sea.
“Eh anong pressure ho ang ia-apply ng Tsina sa atin? Ang ating polisiya po ay pagkakaibigan sa lahat at wala tayong kalaban, independiyenteng panlabas na polisiya — independent foreign policy,” he said.
“And the President in fact shares many values with the leadership of China including personal friendship with President Xi, so I think the possibility of using the vaccine as pressure as far as the Philippines is concerned is almost nil,” added Roque.
China and five other governments — Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan — are embroiled in years-long disputes over the South China Sea, particularly in its southern part, called the Spratlys.
Over the years, China, which insisted on historical and indisputable claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, has expanded its presence in the waters, turning several former reefs into artificial islands with military facilities, runways and surface to air missiles.
Interestingly, President Rodrigo Duterte has shown preferential treatment towards China since he became President in 2016.
Philippines is looking to import three vaccines from China — Sinovac, Sinopharm, and Cansino — to address the spread of the disease in the country, along with vaccines developed by other countries.