MANILA, Philippines – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon called on President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration to review the “policy of appeasement and accommodation on China,” saying it does not translate to better economic relations with the Asian giant.

Drilon pointed out that Vietnam, which has been aggressive in asserting its rights over the South China Sea, has received more Chinese investments than the Philippines.

Citing records, Drilon said the Philippines got a measly $31 million worth of foreign direct investments (FDIs) from China in 2017, in contract to $2.17 billion Chinese direct investments to Vietnam.

“There is empirical evidence that such appeasement does not necessarily result in better investment in our country. Here, it’s not getting any better; it’s getting worse,” Drilon said in a press conference on Thursday, June 14.

“That indicates the non-connection between the policy of appeasement and economic benefits, as shown in Vietnam’s policy of confrontation which yielded more positive results,” he added.

Drilon added that the Philippines’ FDIs from China is far below the FDIs it received from Japan and the United States in 2017, amounting to $600 million and $160 million, respectively.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/204923-drilon-urges-duterte-review-china-appeasement-policy