South China Sea: Listen to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez – Not to Ramos

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said that when it comes to South China Sea dispute, the people should pay more attention to the remarks of DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez. This is about the Philippines-China economic current ties instead of former President Fidel Ramos’ war threats. Ramos said that the Philippines can afford to launch an “economic war” with China in retaliation to their South China Sea illegal activities.

Ramos suggested what the President could do to fight back in the region’s dispute through an economic war with China on a very small basis. This could be in the form of promoting “what we can manufacture better than China,” he said. “If we are talking about a war on a tiny scale, maybe more on economics than anything else, yes we can go to war because it’s a reciprocal thing,” Ramos added.

Geng Shuang also said that the two countries have conducted cooperation in various fields since the current president offers his hands in friendship with China. “In this regard, I hope you will pay more attention to the recent remark of Secretary Ramon Lopez of Trade and Industry of the Philippines that the Philippine economy has gained from economic and trade cooperation with China,” Geng reiterated.

Beijing stressed that both President Du30 and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed on adhering to “good-neighborliness” and proper settlement of differences. This must be respected by former leaders of the country and its citizens. After all, the majority are for peace and not war.

With all due respect to former President Fidel V. Ramos, he had a lot of opportunities to solve the South China Sea dispute – but he had done nothing significant. Now, it’s the time of the new Philippine President Du30 and he should not meddle with the agreements of both countries for peace by criticizing the Filipino President’s actions on the issue through media.