Zubiri said his information came straight from the horse’ mouth.
Zubiri said no less than Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian told him at their meeting Monday (October 10) that the Philippines “is already being watched as a tourist hotspots and have been warning their countrymen of possible crimes that could happen to them.”
“What the good Ambassador meant was we could be possibly blacklisted as he mentioned they do that to countries who promote gambling for their countrymen,” he added. “The word ‘blacklist’ came from the good Ambassador and not from the Senators so truly there is a strong possibility that we are either already in the list or could be added on that list if POGOs continue to proliferate in our country,” Zubiri said.
Zubirisaid that fellow senators Robin Padilla and Win Gatchalian agreed with his statement that the Chinese ambassador was referring to a travel blacklist of the Philippines.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Tuesday night formally denied that China has included the Philippines in its blacklist for tourism.”The report of ‘tourist blacklist’ is misinformation. China has not placed the Philippines on its blacklist for tourism,” it said.Hours earlier, the… Read More
Raising arbitral ruling on West Philippine Sea ‘a futile exercise’
Malacañang rejected a former Cabinet official’s suggestion to raise the arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea at the 74th United Nations (UN) General Assembly, describing it as a “futile exercise.”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo dismissed former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario’s suggestion, saying the UN body has no power to enforce the Philippines’ legal victory over China.
“For one, it’s a futile exercise. Why? Because the UN has no enforcement force,” Panelo said in a media interview.
Del Rosario cited the case of Nicaragua against the United States where the UN had supported the legal victory of the former by adopting a resolution calling for full compliance with the judgment of the International Court of Justice.
“Nicaragua’s resort to the UN had the effect of securing international publicity and of gaining favorable global opinion. The United States continued to defy the UN resolutions, until later on, it ultimately provided a substantial aid package to Nicaragua,” del Rosario said.
Panelo, however, said that despite this resolution, there was no further development on Nicaragua’s case.
“He is citing the case of Nicaragua. Did anything happen there? None. It remained the same,” Panelo said.
The Palace official reiterated that President Rodrigo R. Duterte still finds his method of holding bilateral talks with China as the most effective.
“There is impasse but the talks are still ongoing. At the same time, he negotiates with respect to other areas of concern mutually beneficial to both (countries),” Panelo said.
On Monday, del Rosario urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to “formulate a strategy on how the global village of nations can be convinced to take a stand on the rule of law in support of the Philippines.”
For del Rosario, the UN General Assembly is “an excellent venue because all countries will listen and the Philippines can present a case for the UN to reassert that right is might and the rule of law must be upheld.”
The Philippines is scheduled to speak before the UN on September 28. (PNA)
President RodrigoRoaDuterte returned to Manila on Sundayafter productive talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.
The President’sfive-day official visit, his fifth to China, opened with a bilateral meeting with President Xi on 29 August 2019 at theDiaoyutaiGuest House.
The two Leaders reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and China andrenewedtheircommitment tofurther enhanceour countries’Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation.
Presidents Duterte and Xi had candid andopen exchangeofviews on the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, including the Arbitral Award which the Philippines won in 2016.
Acknowledging the importance of aCode of Conduct(COC)in theSouth China Seato regional peace and stability, the two Presidents expressed determination to fast track negotiations for the conclusion ofan effective and substantive COC at the soonest possible time.
President Duterteconveyedthe Philippines’ commitmentto enhanceASEAN’s engagement with China duringour country’sstewardship oftheASEAN-ChinaDialogue.
The Presidentalsomet Premier Li Keqiang andreiterated the Philippines’ strong resolve to further expand economic ties and people-to-people exchanges with China for mutual benefit.Helikewisestressed the importance of completing infrastructure projects with China with favorable financing arrangements.
Premier Li, for his part, stated that the Philippines is an important partner of China in Southeast Asia and that China is ready to step up cooperation in support of the “Build, Build, Build” Program to deliver win-win outcomes.
A total of six (6) agreements were signed during the visit,covering cooperation in the areas of education, science and technology, finance, and customs, among others.
The President also metwithChinese and Filipinoinvestors,includingkey business leaders in thePhilippine construction industry,during the Philippines-China Business Forumorganized by the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Presidentlikewisegracedin Beijingthe Opening Ceremony of the 2019 FIBA Basketball Word Cup as special guest of President Xi, the only foreign leader invited to the event.
In Guangzhou,Guangdong Province,the President was welcomed byChinese Vice President WangQishanand top political leaders ofthe province.
The Presidentthen witnessed the game ofGilasPilipinasagainst Italy in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World CupattheFoshan International Sports and Cultural Center in Foshan.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo dismissed former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario’s suggestion, saying the UN body has no power to enforce the Philippines’ legal victory over China.
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