China as much an ‘imperialist’ as US, Reds caution Duterte

From InterAksyon (Oct 22): China as much an ‘imperialist’ as US, Reds caution Duterte

Communist rebels cautioned President Rodrigo Duterte on forging closer relations with China, saying it was as much “an imperialist power” as the United States.

In its official organ, “Ang Bayan,” the Communist Party of the Philippines took “a critical view of the Duterte regime's policy of amity and friendship with China.”

While acknowledging “the opportunities for positive changes in the economy and people's livelihood which were long closed because of US domination and reliance,” it said that “China has its imperialist self-interest in forging friendship with the Philippines.”

It pointed out that, while once a “modern socialist country,” China today “is one of the biggest capitalist countries and a burgeoning imperialist power.”

“Along with the expansion of China's economic empire, there is also its strategic deployment of military forces in various parts of the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. China's geopolitical interests are increasing and its challenge to US hegemony is growing,” the CPP said.

It noted that turning the Philippines “into a bastion of anti-US imperialism” conformed to China’s “geopolitical interest.”

But while closer relations with China could benefit Filipinos “in their struggle to break free from US control and domination,” the CPP stressed this would happen “only if the Filipino people’s national democratic struggle will continue to advance and if the Duterte regime will forge with them a patriotic alliance.”

For its part, China “must recognize and respect the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines and dump its clearly illegal, illegitimate and geographically untenable claim that it has exclusive rights to the fishing area around Bajo de Masinloc,” or Scarborough Shoal.

It should also support “the clamor for demilitarization of the South China Sea and avoid taking steps that contravene other countries’ claims” even as the rebels admitted that “Beijing does not have a strong suit on this issue since it has reclaimed shoals and atolls and built islands that have been eroding for several months.”

Referring to Duterte’s earlier plans to invite investments from Chinese firms, the CPP said the government “must insist” that there be a “counterpart investment or assistance to more basic industries needed by the country” and ensure “a corresponding policy of protecting national interests.”

“It must be insisted that a portion of investments be allotted to basic industries and that there should be technology transfer. There must also be clear-cut policy for protecting the environment and the national patrimony,” it said.

It warned that failure on Duterte’s part to “uphold the democratic interests of the people” would merely replace one exploitative relationship with another and end in the “perpetuation of foreign monopoly capitalist plunder of the country.”

“If the people's interests are not prioritized, the promised new roads, bridges, rails and ports will be for naught. The economy will be glittery outside but underdeveloped inside. There will be factories but no industrialization; there will be plantations but the people will lack food and be condemned to hunger,” it said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133590/china-as-much-an-imperialist-as-us-reds-caution-duterte