Cancel deals with Chinese firms to develop 3 ‘strategic’ islands : De Lima

August 18, 2019

Senator Leila de Lima has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to call off the Philippines' agreements with Chinese firms to develop three strategic islands  to avoid security risks posed by China’s military activities in the Asia Pacific region.

De Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 93 calling for the cancellation of the planned development of Fuga, Grande and Chiquita Islands, as well as any other location of significant strategic maritime security importance, backed by China.

“No amount of guarantee of good behavior nor promise of economic gain from China would justify placing our country at risk by allowing foreign presence in strategic locations, especially by a government that has repeatedly expressed their claim over our territorial waters, as well as those of our neighboring states,” she said.

Chinese investors are reportedly targeting three strategic islands in northern Philippines to transform them into economic and tourism zones, namely: Fuga in Cagayan province, and adjacent Grande and Chiquita in Subic Bay, Zambales province.

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority confirmed an agreement with Xiamen-based Fong Zhi Enterprise Corp. to develop a $2-billion Smart City in Fuga Island, patterned after the firm’s  mega infrastructure project in Fujian province in China.

During Duterte’s visit to Beijing for the Belt and Road Initiative forum last April, GFTG Property Holdings and Sanya CEDF Sino-Philippine Investment Corp. forged a $298-million project to develop the adjacent Grande and Chiquita islands under the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

De Lima pointed out that the military officials’ warning about security risks involved on Chinese development of the three islands considered “strategic” features of the Philippines’ maritime security should warrant the cancellation of these agreements.

“There is already sufficient basis to support the immediate cancellation of these development agreements,” she said. DMS