MANILA, Philippines – Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday, January 17, warned against letting a Chinese company take over Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines’ shipyard in Subic Bay, citing its serious implications on Philippine national security.
Trillanes made the statement in a Senate media forum, while responding to questions about a possible government takeover of Hanjin shipyard located in Subic Bay in Zambales, a former US naval base.
He said the public should be vigilant about developments related to the Hanjin shipyard because of its strategic location.
“Definitely kailangan nating bantayan ang aspeto na ‘yan. ‘Pag napunta ‘yan sa mga Chinese companies, ang problem ngayon, meron talagang highly active initiative ang China to expand their influence in Southeast Asia,” he said.
(Definitely, we have to keep a close watch over that aspect. If that lands in the hands of Chinese companies, the problem now is that China really has a highly active initiative to expand its influence in Southeast Asia.)