Philippines, China urged to help each other in disasters

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

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Philippines, China urged to help each other in disasters
The two countries, after all, 'share disasters' even as they remain in a dispute over the South China Sea, say an ASEAN official and a Chinese media executive

SICHUAN, China – Southeast Asian countries and China should look beyond their maritime disputes and see that they “share disasters,” among other things, that require them to help each other, a regional official said.

For a Chinese media executive, this could mean sharing data to keep Filipino and Chinese fishermen safe during disasters, even as the Philippines and China remain in a dispute over the South China Sea.

Danny Lee, director for community affairs development at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, explained that, after all, the South China Sea dispute “is one aspect of a multifaceted relationship” between Southeast Asian countries and China.

“I think, if you look at media, sometimes it’s almost the entire thing’s on the dispute, but nothing on the cooperation. I think that’s where the cooperation part comes in,” Lee told Rappler on the sidelines of a forum on ASEAN-China media on Friday, September 19.

The forum took place as part of the 9th Conference on ASEAN-China People-to-People Friendship in Chengdu in Sichuan, China, incidentally as Tropical Storm Mario (Fung-Wong) flooded the Philippine capital and killed at least 10, mostly in Metro Manila.

During his interview with Rappler, Lee pointed out that typhoons “affect ASEAN every year,” as each typhoon usually “forms over the Pacific, hits the Philippines first, crosses the South China Sea, and next…Vietnam and southern China.”

“I think sharing of information is very important,” he said, as he cited the need to share information on potential flight disruptions during storms.

China Radio International vice president Xia Jixuan agreed that the Philippines and China, in particular, need to help each other respond to disasters.

‘Friends solve conflicts differently’

“Maybe a better way to start cooperation between the two countries is disaster prevention, either education or reporting, because tsunamis and typhoons are common disasters for both countries, for the safety of the fishermen,” Xia said.

“So they should help each other by sharing the data. Maybe China has some data useful to Philippine fishermen, and vice versa. And also, you sometimes have the useful data that we can share. I think probably we can start cooperating in this respect, and gradually people will learn to appreciate the values of the other,” the Chinese media executive explained.

Xia added that given the dispute between the Philippines and China, the media “should help the people to know the other better.”

“If you know someone better, then you tend to make friends with them. Friends solve conflicts differently. If you solve a conflict with an enemy, you fight. But if you solve a dispute with a friend, you talk to each other. So that’s the best way,” he said.

While both Lee and Xia call for stronger ties beyond the South China Sea dispute, cooperation on disasters is not new for the Philippines and China.

When Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) ravaged central Philippines in November 2013, China sent a 300-bed floating naval facility that treated up to 6,000 patients in Yolanda-hit areas.

In 2004, the two countries also signed a defense cooperation agreement that seeks, among other things, to “strengthen exchanges in fields of counter-terrorism, humanitarian relief, and rescue.” – Rappler.com

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Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He finished MA Journalism in Ateneo and MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email pat.esmaquel@rappler.com