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Monday, February 17, 2025

Speaker seeks stronger regional cooperation amid threats

China’s growing global influence and aggressive expansionism were condemned by American and Filipino lawmakers at the 27th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) held yesterday in Manila.

In his opening remarks, House Speaker Martin Romualdez called for stronger regional cooperation, economic resilience and responsible technology governance to address security and economic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

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He pointed out that geopolitical tensions, economic vulnerabilities and technological disruptions in the region require a coordinated global response.

“We gather at a critical moment when the Indo-Pacific—home to 4.7 billion people, or 60% of the global population, and a driving force of global trade and innovation—is both a region of immense opportunity and unprecedented challenges,” Romualdez said.

The event saw U.S. Congressman Robert Pittenger, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, and former Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger warning about Beijing’s escalating military aggression, economic coercion, and covert political interference in democracies worldwide.

Held at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, discussions focused on the Indo-Pacific, a region that includes economic powerhouses such as China, Japan, India, and South Korea, and one that continues to be a theater of unresolved disputes and strategic rivalry.

They accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of destabilizing the global order through economic subversion, political infiltration, and military expansionism.

Pittenger, PI-SF’s founder, described China as a key enabler of authoritarian regimes.

“We have many challenges in the world today, spawned in large part by the nemesis in this region—China,” he said. “For each of those threats and challenges we have, much of their commitment, their support, their investment comes from China. We all understand that.”

Pittenger pointed to China’s economic and military ties with Iran, North Korea, and Russia, warning that its backing fuels conflicts and emboldens authoritarian leaders.

The Speaker reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to international law in asserting its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

He cited the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, which rejected China’s expansive maritime claims in the region,  emphasizing that upholding the decision is essential for maintaining regional stability.

“For the Philippines, the situation in the West Philippine Sea remains a direct and urgent concern. This is not just a matter of territorial integrity—it is a test of the international community’s commitment to upholding international law and ensuring freedom of navigation,” Romualdez said.

For his part, Sen. Cassidy, speaking via video message, accused Beijing of weaponizing corruption to subvert democracies.

“One of the main reasons we’re at odds with China is because they do not respect international rules, principles, or norms. The values that every freedom-loving people in society accepts, they disregard,” he said.

Cassidy warned that China co-opts foreign leaders through illicit financial incentives, making them economically dependent.

“The CCP targets vulnerable nations, offering investments in infrastructure and development projects, only to later weaponize them as leverage for geopolitical control,” he added.

Cassidy noted that the Philippines has been a primary target of China’s expansionist tactics.

Beijing’s illegal incursions into the West Philippine Sea, its militarization of artificial islands, and its harassment of Filipino fishermen have fueled outrage in Manila.

The American senator also pointed to China’s widespread use of debt-trap diplomacy, manipulating governments in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia through massive infrastructure loans.

“There would never be a war with China that the Philippines would be unable to win,” Cassidy declared, as he underscored the importance of strong international alliances in countering China’s aggression.

Meanwhile, Pottinger described China’s strategy as a silent Cold War, using disinformation, economic dependency, and military intimidation to subvert democratic values.

“For too long, we have indulged the fantasy that economic engagement would liberalize China. Instead, Beijing has exploited, outmaneuvered, and undermined democracies to serve its authoritarian ambitions,” he said.

Pottinger criticized China’s handling of COVID-19, arguing that Beijing’s cover-up of the Wuhan outbreak led to a global catastrophe.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Romualdez welcomes lawmakers, experts to PH-hosted global intelligence-security forum.”

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