PAGPAPATUPAD NG RULES AT BATAS, WALANG TARGET NA ANUMANG BANSA—CHINESE OFFICIALS

Ikinaila ni Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun ang akusasyon ni Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. na ang China, sa pag-aresto ng 100 Filipino nationals dahil umano sa illegal employment at overstaying, “is using such action to pressure the Philippines over its law enforcement operations against Chinese nationals, even branding it as “simple extortion and blackmail.”

Ani Jiakun, “all foreign nationals in China should abide by Chinese laws and regulations. China’s immigration authorities perform their duty in accordance with the law and protect the lawful rights and interests of the personnel concerned.”

Ayon pa kay Jiakun, walang anumang bansa ang tina-target ng kanilang gobyerno: “It’s learned that it was exactly this defense secretary who personally led the armed forces to seize and detain Chinese nationals lawfully working in the Philippines. This person’s consistent attacks and smears against China harm not only the bilateral relations. It is the interests of the Philippines and all its people that will bear the brunt.”

Sinabi naman ni Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines Ji Lingpeng na “completely unfounded” ang mga pahayag ni Teodoro laban sa Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson na ang mga sinasabi umano nito ay disinformation; na ang Chinese workers sa Sanjia Steel Plant na dinakip ay sangkot sa iligal na aktibidad sa bansa at ang mga opisyal ng Chinese Embassy ay nakikialam sa local law enforcement processes.

Aniya, “the Chinese Embassy immediately provided the Philippine side with copies of passports and valid work visa or permit of all the said Chinese workers and got no feedback nor were the workers released.”

“We fully respect the Philippines’ judicial sovereignty and the lawful handling of cases by its relevant law-enforcement authorities. If solid evidence proves a foreign national in violation of Philippine law, he or she shall be brought to justice in accordance with the law. The same is true in China. However, we firmly oppose any discriminatory or selective law enforcement campaigns targeting Chinese nationals by the Philippine side out of political considerations,” ayon pa kay Ji.

Ukol naman sa diumano ay pakikialam ng Chinese Embassy officials, sinabi ni Ji na: “Anyone with a basic understanding of diplomacy knows that a fundamental responsibility of an embassy is to protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of its nationals from infringement. Regardless of the reason a Chinese national is detained, the Chinese Embassy has the right and responsibility to conduct consular visits, provide consular protection, make demarches to relevant Philippine law-enforcement authorities to ensure humane, fair and just treatment of detained Chinese nationals.” (JERRY S. TAN)