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RP to sustain good relations with China despite nuclear sub issue

Sun Star Network Online
15 May 2008

MANILA -- Malacañang on Wednesday said the Philippines will maintain friendly relations with China despite reports that the emerging Asian power has a new underground nuclear submarine base close to Southeast Asia sealanes.

"We will continue to maintain the best of relations with countries in the world like China. It's because what happens when they hear of such development, people will think, 'Aha! Something is in the offing!'," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

Ermita said it was the first time he heard about such activities of the Chinese government but "we can be sure a superpower like the US would know about it...and know how to address it."

He said the Philippine government is not very much concerned with the report because it knows that "all countries in the world are after regional peace and that it's not intended to destabilize peace in the region."

He said the countries concerned "would be responsible enough."

Ermita said proposals to revive alliances and cooperation with other Southeast Asian countries are "high level" and that he is not in position to say if anyone has initiated such an action.

He said a revival of the US bases in the Philippines would have the blessings of Congress and should be in the paramount interest of the country.

Reports said the base is on the southern tip of Hainan Island. The base could hold up to 20 submarines, including a new type of nuclear ballistic missile submarine, and future Chinese aircraft carrier battle groups.

The same report said Washington should "tighten" its alliances in Asia to check China's growing military might and develop "interoperability" capabilities among allies such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

James Lyons, an ex-commander of the US Pacific Fleet, was quoted as saying that the US needs to reestablish high-level military ties with the Philippines as a deterrent to China's naval expansion.

He suggested the US lease a squadron of F-16 fighter jets and navy vessels to the Philippines. (JMR/Sunnex)

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