‘Dinuro Pa’: JV Ejercito Reveals Chinese Ambassador Bullied AFP Chief

Sen. JV Ejercito on Tuesday, Dec. 12, revealed an incident involving Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. amid calls to send Huang home following China’s increased aggressions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In an interview on “One Balita Pilipinas” on One PH, Ejercito stressed Huang should promote a “line of diplomacy” between China and the Philippines, but the ambassador is “very hostile,” and should be recalled by Beijing.

“In fact, ngayon ko lang sasabihin nakakwentuhan ko si chief of staff Gen. Brawner noong kamakailan nagkaroon kami ng executive session. Naikwento niya na sa isang okasyon na kinimpronta siya ni Chinese Ambassador (Huang) at dinuro pa at sinabing, ‘Don't provoke us’ (I am saying this only now that chief of staff General Brawner and I had a chat during a recent executive session. He told me on one occasion, Huang confronted him and even aggressively pointed at him while saying, ‘Don’t provoke us’),” the senator bared.

But Ejercito explained sending Huang home does not mean cutting ties with China. The senator said he only wants a more “diplomatic” replacement to ease tensions between Philippines and China in the WPS.

Instead of adding to the tension, Ejercito noted the ambassador should be relaying the Philippines’ plight and diplomatic protests amid China’s bullying of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), civilian and fishermen’s boats. 

Recalling the incident with Brawner, Ejercito pointed out that an ambassador should not be “disrespectful” and “rude,” especially to a high-ranking government official. “Imagine, chief of staff natin kanyang (Huang) binu-bully aba eh hindi na yata…parang mukhang ibang usapan na ‘yan (Imagine, Huang is bullying our chief of staff…that’s probably another level of disrespect),” he said.

“Kung kaya niyang mambastos dito sa host country, eh talagang ganun na 'yung…attitude. Sana ito’y palitan, para naman kung gusto pa ng Tsina na tayo ay manatiling magkaibigan ay mabawasan naman ang tensyon dito sa sitwasyon sa WPS (If Huang can be disrespectful in our host country, then that is already his attitude. I hope he gets replaced, if China wants to remain friends and lessen tensions in the WPS),” Ejercito said.

Ejercito is one of the lawmakers who wanted Huang sent home. On Sunday, Dec. 10, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri urged President Marcos to send Huang back to China as the ambassador has done “nothing” to address China’s aggressions in the WPS.

Their calls follow a PCG report last Sunday, Dec. 10, wherein the China Coast Guard blasted three Philippine vessels with water cannons and rammed one of them to cause engine damage. The vessels were on a routine resupply mission to troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.

On Saturday, Dec. 9, CCG also fired water cannons on Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships that would provide oil and grocery packs to over 30 fishing vessels in Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

A convoy of civilian boats planning to deliver provisions to Filipino fishermen and troops in the WPS also aborted the trip on Sunday, Dec. 10, after bullying by Chinese vessels.

For her part, Sen. Nancy Binay, also hoped China can send a more “proper” and “easier to talk to” ambassador.

House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo also said Huang is not performing his duties adequately, and also wants him sent home. But for Tulfo, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz should also be recalled. Doing so will show the country “means business,” and is a “higher form of protest,” he said.

Other lawmakers that have condemned China include Senators Risa Hontiveros, and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. Hontiveros said they were “fed up” with the bullying, while Dela Rosa suggested that the country also start bullying Chinese ships with water cannons and military-grade lasers.

Sen. Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, recommended FlorCruz to be pulled out. According to him, the Philippines “cannot afford to maintain diplomatic complacency when our citizens are subjected to harassment and intimidation [in] our Exclusive Economic Zone.”

Still in progress

Currently, Ejercito said the Senate is not yet sure as to what needs to be done to send Huang home. He added that they are yet to discuss it in detail, given that his revelation of the incident between Brawner and Huang is fairly new.

“Siguro pag-usapan namin, we would come up with a resolution para ma-request na palitan na itong ambassador [Huang] (We’ll likely talk about it, and we would come up with a resolution to request a replacement for Huang),” he said.

When asked about Dela Rosa’s suggestion, Ejercito stressed the need for “restraint and maximum tolerance.” He acknowledged China as a superpower, while Philippines is a third-world country.

To compensate, he said the Senate has increased allocations for the defense budget, AFP modernization, and the coast guard. Ejercito stressed it is for the Philippines to have a “minimum credible defense posture,” and not to match China’s military strength.

“Kahit papaano ay rerespetuhin naman ‘yung ating mga Navy at ‘yung mga Coast Guard, hindi ‘yung binu-bully na lang. So ‘yan ang aming ginagawa sa Senado on our part, (So in some ways, the navy and coast guard would be respected, and won’t be bullied around. So that’s what we’re doing on our part in Senate)” Ejercito said.

Zubiri: Huang has ‘lost touch’

In an interview on “Headstart” over ANC on Tuesday, Zubiri stressed that China has “stepped up” their aggressions against the Philippines. Like Ejercito, he said Huang has “failed diplomatically” as the ambassador even urges China to be more aggressive in the WPS.

Citing the Dec. 9 incident, Zubiri was convinced China was “intentionally” harassing BFAR ships. He added it was evident that China wanted to provoke the Philippines to retaliate, and twist the narrative to their favor.

While he commended the personnel in the resupply mission, Zubiri emphasized Huang has “lost touch” with the situation. According to Zubiri, a lot of politicians, including other senators, already distrust Huang.

Zubiri then acknowledged his colleagues’ calls to send Huang home. He also noted a “brand new” resolution approved by the House of Representatives that condemned China’s behavior in the WPS.

“We’ve done this twice in the Senate…so now we have one, both legislatures: the House of Representatives and the Senate are one in saying their (China) aggressive behavior is just too much, and we condemn it,” the Senate President said.

“And I think it’s about time to send a new ambassador who can actually make strides, and try to reach our side, the Philippine side, and calm things down…not add fuel to the fire,” he added.

Summoned

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday it has summoned Huang to protest “back-to-back harassments” in the WPS over the weekend, as longstanding geopolitical tensions continue in the strategic waterway.

Manila has asked China to direct its vessels to cease and desist from what it said were illegal actions and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels, and stop interfering in legitimate Philippine activities, the DFA said in a statement.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro verbally delivered the protest against the Chinese maneuvers that led to a collision, and against use of water cannons against Philippine vessels sending supplies to troops stationed in an ageing warship at the Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal.

“The actions of the Chinese vessels within the Philippine exclusive economic zone are illegal and violate the freedom of navigation,” the DFA said.

It also protested China's use of water cannons against three fisheries bureau vessels on their way to send oil and groceries to fishermen near the Panatag Shoal.

The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The two neighbors traded accusations on Sunday, and the Philippines called China's actions a “serious escalation.”

China's foreign ministry protested over what it said was a collision on Sunday, but the Philippines said Chinese coastguard and maritime militia repeatedly fired water cannons at its resupply boats, causing “serious engine damage” to one, and “deliberately” ramming another.

The United States, the Philippines’ treaty ally, and the United Kingdom, both expressed support for the Philippines and condemned the actions of China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, have competing claims. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's claims had no legal basis. – With Reuters