00:00 The Philippines' military strength was undermined,
00:03 and they continued to ally with other countries
00:06 to advance international law in the West Philippine Sea.
00:10 Mela Lez Moras has more.
00:12 Defense Secretary Gibutio Doro has insisted that the government will not back down
00:19 in advancing rights in the West Philippine Sea.
00:22 In the hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations,
00:25 the Chinese government's unwavering commitment to the WPS
00:30 and the next bullying of the Philippine troops was highlighted.
00:34 Teodoro also said that China's expansionist agenda
00:52 was a proof of the new map with a 10-dash line.
00:57 When China states that we are puppets of the United States
01:02 or other hegemons, in order to contain them,
01:07 they implicitly admit, by using the word "contain,"
01:10 that they have an expansionist agenda,
01:13 and that is proven by the new administrative map
01:17 where they added another dash line.
01:19 So that is the best evidence of their expansionist agenda,
01:23 to dominate the whole South China Sea and perhaps beyond.
01:27 The DND also clarified the Philippines' view on China and America
01:32 regarding the issue of the West Philippine Sea.
01:36 What I have heard is that we are trying to defend our sovereignty against one country
01:41 by giving up our sovereignty to another country.
01:44 Also, Madam Chair, Presidential Envoy to China, Teddy Boy Oloksin Jr.,
01:48 said the Philippines has no plans of going to war with China.
01:53 But why are we letting the US have the footing to have a war in the West Philippine Sea?
02:01 Isn't that dangerous for us and all our fellow citizens?
02:07 That is not my view.
02:11 Who is the one who is the water cannon, the US or China?
02:14 Who is the one in the war footing, us or them?
02:17 To me, it is far away and I don't want to go to war.
02:20 I am very cognizant that we need an independent foreign policy
02:26 because we need China and it is a huge market.
02:31 But if the fight is fair, they are not threatening our territory,
02:37 then I hope we will not have a problem.
02:39 All of this was highlighted in the hearing of the camera
02:42 about the almost 230 billion pesos of the DND's fund and its attached agencies for the next year.
02:50 A large part of this is the effort to modernize their economy.
02:55 The DND is supported by lawmakers,
02:58 especially their campaign for the security and peace of the country.
03:04 Next week, the budget hearing of other agencies will be continued here in the camera.
03:11 Melalee Moras for Sabayan.
03:13 (upbeat music)
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