The Philippines

The news that Chinese companies will invest US$2 billion to build an industrial park at the former US-based Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines has been questioned in the Philippines. The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on the 25th that Philippine Defense Secretary Lorenzana made it clear on the 24th that the transformation of Clark Air Force Base into Clark New City, including Freeport and Special Economic Zones, does not constitute national security. Threatened.

　　 The British Financial Times previously reported that this new project is one of China’s largest investments in the Philippines, and it is also one of the most obvious signs that Philippine President Duterte is increasingly abandoning the United States to pro-China. Some people in the Philippines worry that China's influence may "penetrate" into Philippine politics.

    "This is just a business investment, why is there a security issue?" When asked about this on the 24th, Lorenzana asked, "Do you think the Chinese military will come here? They won't. It is only business people who come here. ". He said that the project can create many jobs and the land is not owned by China. The Chinese only went to the Philippines for construction and hired Filipinos. "What's wrong with this?" According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine "Base Transformation and Development Agency" and China Gezhouba Group signed the framework of Clark New Town Industrial Park. According to the agreement, construction work is expected to start before the end of next year.

    In addition, the signing of a memorandum of understanding on oil and gas development cooperation between China and the Philippines has attracted continuous attention in the Philippines. According to the "Philippine Daily Inquirer" report, the Speaker of the Philippine Senate, Recto, expressed support for the memorandum on the 24th. Rector said that reaching this agreement with China is "safe" for the Philippines' national interests. Previously, Acting Chief Justice Carpio of the Philippines and former Foreign Minister De Sarrio both stated that this agreement will not cause any loss to the Philippines. Rector said that the endorsement of the two of them strongly proves that cooperation with China is a good thing.

    The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Rector specifically mentioned the importance of the Philippines-China joint development of oil and gas for the Philippines to achieve "energy independence". He said that the reserves of the Malapaya gas field off the island of Palawan in the Philippines are expected to be exhausted by 2024. "The shadow of energy starvation is what drives us to find new oil and gas fields."