Escudero: Fil-Chi communities may help ease tension in West Philippine Sea

Senate President Francis Escudero (left) and a frame grab (right) from handout video footage taken and released on April 30, 2024 by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). It shows the PCG ship BRP Bagacay (center) being hit by water cannon from Chinese coast guard vessels near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. –SENATE PRIB, AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has emphasized the importance of Filipino-Chinese communities in helping ease the tension between the country and China in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement on Sunday, Escudero underscored the importance of the Filipino-Chinese communities’ role in “de-escalating tensions” in the region and “eventually resolving the conflict.”

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“Para sa akin, ang papel na pwedeng gampanan ng FFCCCII (Federation Of Filipino Chinese Chambers Of Commerce & Industry, Inc) at iba’t ibang Filipino-Chinese communities ay malaki at malawak,” Escudero said.

(For me, the role of FFCCCII and other Filipino-Chinese communities is significant.)

“Hiling at dalangin ko na magsilbi kayong tulay ‘ika nga sa rumaragasa at tila nagagalit na karagatan na tinatawag nating West Philippine Sea, sa pagitan ng bansa natin at bansang Tsina upang sa gayon anumang hindi pagkakaunawaan ay maresolba, anumang hindi pagkakaintindihan ay maisantabi,” he added.

Senate President Francis Escudero speaks before the Filipino-Chinese Federation members and officers at the 23rd Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day celebration in Manila on Friday, June 7, 2024. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

(I hope and pray that you will serve as bridges over the raging waters of the West Philippines Sea, which is in the middle of our country and China, so our conflict will be resolved.)

The senator likewise urged these communities “to act as bridges,” citing Simon and Garfunkel’s famous song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as a reference.

Escudero also expressed confidence that the ongoing conflict in WPS will “be resolved peacefully” since both countries have a “long history of cooperation and cultural exchange.”

“Malalim na ang ugat at kasaysayan sa pagitan ng dalawa nating mga bansa. [Higit isang] libong taon na ang lumipas na meron tayong ugnayan at relasyon, cultural man o sa ekonomiya, sa pagitan ng dalawa nating mga bansa at wala naman tayong pinag-awayan,” he said.

(The history between these two countries is deep. For over 1,000 years, our ties have extended to our culture and economy, and we have not disagreed on anything.)

Aside from the Philippines and China, the senator pointed out that about 150 territorial disputes worldwide, which he claimed did not necessarily lead to war.