Pacquiao on China’s invasion in West PH Sea: No need to fight other nations

FILE PHOTO: Senator Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Senator and presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao said Thursday that there is no need for the Philippines to fight other nations in asserting the country’s rights over maritime territories amid China’s perceived incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

At the Rotary Club Manila Weekly Membership meeting, Pacquiao was asked about his foreign policy should he win the presidency via the May 2022 elections.

“Kailangan po natin protektahan ang ating bansa. Ipaglaban ang ating rights, ang karapatan natin. But, we must always focus on the best interest of our people. This should be our focus with our foreign policy. Kailangan ‘yung makatulong tayo sa ating mga kababayan, makatulong tayo sa ating bansa,” he said.

(We need to protect our country. We need to fight for our rights. But, we must always focus on the best interest of our people. This should be our focus with our foreign policy. We need a policy that would help Filipinos and our country.)

“We don’t need to fight against anybody o hindi tayo makipag-away sa kanila. Kailangan, we must be a friend to all nations na makakatulong sa ating bansa,” he added.

(We don’t need to fight against anybody. What is needed is we must be friends with all nations that could help our country.)

However, he noted that this does not mean that the Philippines would allow being stepped on.

“Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin no’n na papayag na lang tayo na apak-apakan ‘yung karapatan natin, apak-apakan ‘yung—agawin ‘yung bansa natin o ano man,” the senator said.

(But, this does not mean that we agree to have our rights stepped on or have our territory seized.)

“Pwede naman nating daanin sa magandang usapan ‘yan at lahat ‘yan may solusyon ang lahat ng problema,” he went on.

(We can solve this through good dialogue and all problems have solutions.)

Citing a line from the national anthem, Pacquiao said that he would not give up the country’s rights.

“Ang ibig sabihin no’n, ‘ang mamatay ng dahil sa’yo,’ willing mong ipaglaban ang ating bansa, ang karapatan ng bawat isa pero kung may solusyon pa na pag-usapan sa pag-uusap masolusyonan ‘yung problema, bakit hindi natin gawin ‘yan?,” he said.

(It means, “to die for our country,” you are willing to fight for our nation, our rights. But, if we can solve it through talks, why won’t we resort to it?)

“So, ‘yun po ang gagawin natin. Hindi po tayo basta-basta gi-give up na lang sa ating bayan. ‘Wag tayong magpapa-bully. Nakita niyo naman ako, kahit sa boxing career ko, hindi ako nagpapa-bully sa mga higanteng mga kalaban ko,” Pacquiao, a world-famous boxing champ, pointed out.

(So, that is what I’ll do. We will not just give up our country. We would not allow ourselves to be bullied. You saw me, even in my boxing career, I did not allow my giant enemies to bully me.)

Pacquiao’s participation in the Rotary Club Manila Weekly Membership meeting was the first time he faced businessmen since he declared his presidential bid.

Early this month, Chinese militia vessels were spotted in the West Philippine Sea which shows an apparent disregard to protests lodged by the Philippine government.

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