VitugVlogs: MVP vs Pnoy on China

MANILA, Philippines – Rappler’s editor at large Marites Vitug talks about the opposing positions of President Aquino and businessman Manny Pangilinan…
over the decision to bring maritime disputes with China to an international court.
Here’s her video blog.

A leading CEO, Manny V. Pangilinan or MVP, took on President Aquino over China.
He disagreed with the government’s move to haul China to an international court to settle the dispute over Scarborough Shoal.
MVP chairs Philex Petroleum Corp. which is talking to a China oil company on possibly exploring gas in the disputed territory.
MVP posed this rhetorical question: “Are you prepared to set aside, but not surrender your claim on sovereignty over the area so you could go on and develop it jointly or should you stick to the moral position that this is ours and no matter what happens this is ours?”
He concluded that, with the pending case, the contested area will “never be developed, at least not in our lifetime.”
But here’s the thing: China wants joint development or a 50% share in the resources found in our own EEZ or exclusive economic zone. However, it reserves for itself all the resources in its EEZ.
So it’s like China telling us: “what is your is ours, but what is mine is mine alone.”
MVP reflects a pragmatic position, while the president elevates it to a moral issue.
As the president said, “If we don’t stand up for our rights, who do we expect will be standing up for our rights?”
This is Marites Vitug for VitugVlogs.

– Rappler.com