Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense, on Thursday, Aug. 4 expressed worries about the brewing tension between China and Taiwan, considering that many Filipinos are working and living in both countries.
In a statement, Estrada said “The reported tension in the region is something to be concerned about.”
He said his worries have a lot to do with how the Philippines is geographically close to Taiwan.
Estrada said he hopes the situation “will not worsen [or] escalate into something more serious”.
He believed that any confrontation between two major powers “could be devastating for the world economy, which is still reeling from the impact of the pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine”.
By “two powers”, Estrada was referring to China and the United States (US)–the latter being Taiwan’s ally.
“It is in our best interest to preserve and safeguard peace, and promote stability and security, with the help of our neighbors in Southeast Asia,” he added.
Source: Manila Bulletin