China to takeover Hanjin Philippines? It doesn’t make sense, says Carpio

MANILA, Philippines — Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday warned about the security implications of a possible Chinese takeover of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. Philippines in Subic.

Hanjin Philippines, a subsidiary of South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd., recently declared bankruptcy.

“China claims our West Philippine Sea. If we allow the Chinese to operate the shipyard in Subic then they can monitor everything that we do,” Carpio said during a Foreign Correspondent Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) forum in Makati City.

“I mean, why do we allow the Chinese to get a foot in Subic when they are trying to seize our West Philippine Sea just across? It doesn’t make sense,” he added.

Carpio issued the remark after two Chinese shipbuilding firms were reportedly interested in taking over the operations of Hanjin Philippines.

READ: 2 Chinese firms eye Hanjin

China and the Philippines have been locked in a territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea for years.

China’s expansive claim has been invalidated by a Permanent Court of Arbitration Tribunal decision in 2016. China, however, refused to recognize the ruling.

The Duterte administration, meanwhile, has chosen to set aside the ruling and engaged Asia’s largest economy in bilateral talks. /ee