Gov’t cooperation with AZEC urged

INDEPENDENT think tank Stratbase Institute urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to expedite cooperation under the Japan-led Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) while avoiding energy agreements with “coercive powers” that could jeopardize national interests.

In a statement, Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres C. Manhit said the Marcos administration must steer away from joint energy exploration activities with China as the Philippines grapples with security and defense issues in the South China Sea.

“Any energy arrangement that comes with implicit or explicit concessions in the West Philippine Sea, or that turns a blind eye on the ongoing coercion there, directly undermines the country’s sovereign and national interests,” he added.

The Philippines, an import-dependent economy, has been hit hard by the ongoing Middle East crisis, forcing it to source fuel from non-traditional partners like Russia and China to augment its dwindling sources.

Mr. Manhit said the Philippines must remain cautious of risky proposals from “untrustworthy” nations like China, which carries serious geopolitical costs.

He pointed to Chinese actions in the disputed South China Sea, including harassment of Philippine vessels and the disregard of the 2016 United Nations-backed arbitral ruling for Manila to avoid exposure to “political and economic leverage that can be weaponized.”

He noted Tokyo as a model of cooperation anchored on transparency, respect for international law and capacity-building in its energy partnerships.

Mr. Marcos last week met with former Japanese Prime Minister and current Supreme Adviser AZEC Kishida Fumio in Malacañang as the two nations reaffirmed commitment to deepen cooperation on energy security and accelerate the transition to renewable energy. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana