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By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
MANILA – Security analyst and academician Dr. Rommel Banlaoi said when President Donald Trump withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a brainchild of then President Barack Obama, China filled the vacuum with its Belt and Road Initiative which now has 129 nations spread from Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Latin America participating.
Interviewed virtually, Dr. Banlaoi said the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation is seriously challenged in its implementation of its goal to make the Asia Pacific region as haven for investments because of COVID-19 pandemic and the trade war between the United States of America and China.
“APEC has so many unfinished businesses because in its Bogor Declaration in 1994 it targeted the year 2020 to make the region a haven for investments,” he said. He added the ASEAN + 1 was created with China for a free trade agreement which eventually expanded with the entry of Japan and South Korea.
Professor Banlaoi said it was in 2021 when the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was formed with the ten ASEAN Member countries with Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand as members.
“The Philippines has focused its attention to RCEP,” Dr. Banlaoi said.
Speaking of the Belt and Road Initiative, Dr. Banlaoi said now that China’s economy is fast recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, he looks forward to the continuation of its projects.
“The 12 big-ticket projects in the Philippines have been delayed due to the pandemic while the Chico River Pump Project, the two bridges in Metro Manila and the Kaliwa Dam are being implemented, the other projects including the davao Expressway, Bicol Long Haul Train project, the Panay-Guimaras bridge have not taken off due to the pandemic,” he added.
He claimed the Philippines benefitted from the comprehensive strategic partnership with China as the world’s second biggest economy has become a major source of investments as well as tourist arrivals. Philippine fruits have started to pick-up again.
However, there have been security and law enforcement concerns with the influx of Chinese nationals working illegally in Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGOs).
“While the Philippines has benefitted more from its close relations with China, we should address the social costs of the POGO operations to prevent long-term repercussions which may affect the good interactions between the two governments,” he explained.
The existing relations with China fostered closer economic, social culture and security relations, with due emphasis on military-to-military and defense-to-defense relations as concerns about the South China Sea have been addressed through the bilateral consultative mechanism.
Professor Banlaoi said President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to lift the moratorium on the exploration of resources within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has paved the way for the two countries to do joint oil and gas exploration as provided for in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two countries.
Being the Coordinator for the ASEAN-China Dialogue, Professor Banlaoi said the Philippines has reduced the tension in the region and has been limited to bilateral concerns, say between China and Vietnam and China and Malaysia.
“We experienced a moment of calmness which later on became the calm before the storm when the United States came in and pursued its mantra on freedom of navigation. The tension is between the United States and China and not in China-ASEAN which has remained stable due to the continuing negotiations on the awaited Code of Conduct.
Dr. Rommel Banlaoi is the President of the Ateneo de Manila-based Philippine Association for China Studies and Chairman of Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research and President of the Philippine Society for Intelligence and Security Studies. He is also a political scientist and international studies expert.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
