PH should pursue independent foreign policy – Shahani
CALASIAO–Former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani wants the Philippine government to shape its own independent foreign policy, not dependent on foreign powers.
Ms. Shahani, also a former career diplomat, made the call during the inauguration of the Regional Consular Office (RCO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at Robinson’s Place in Calasiao with her brother, Former President Fidel V. Ramos as guest of honor and speaker.
A former DFA Undersecretary herself, Ms. Shahani said amid the diplomatic row with China over jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea, it is important for the country to pursue an independent foreign policy because international problem may became a domestic problem, and domestic problems may become international problems.
“Independence means we are not dependent on any foreign power but dependent on ourselves,” said Shahani,
She added: “Don’t say I am not for America. I am for America but not forever. I am for friendship with America but not forever. I would like that we look after our own foreign policy,” she remarked.
The former senator also called on the provincial board of Pangasinan to also urge national leaders to strive hard to put up an independent foreign policy otherwise, because she said, “your capitol (beside the Lingayen Gulf) might be captured by foreign powers in a few years”.
She rallied Filipinos to think of the sovereignty of the entire country. (Leonardo Micua)
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