Left Flank

Devon Stewart and Joshua Kurlantzick at BHTV take a little time to mention the subject of Chinese investment in the Philippines IT sector.

In the ongoing series of articles investigating the National Broadband Network (NBN) project, the latest fireworks in Manila come from Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (which is one of the best names I've ever heard):

An embarrassed Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago Thursday apologized for saying that China «invented corruption» during a heated hearing on the allegedly overpriced National Broadband Network (NBN) project that the Philippine government signed with a Chinese company.

«I will write a formal letter of apology to the Chinese ambassador,» Santiago, head of the Senate foreign relations committee and a close ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, told reporters.

Santiago, famous for her mercurial temper, berated China in Wednesday's nationally televised hearing on the $329-million NBN project that was awarded to China?s Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) Corp. amid allegations of bribery and overpricing.

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri and businessman Jose «Joey» de Venecia III, whose company lost the NBN contract, testified that they were offered bribes by Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos to clear ZTE for the contract, which has since been suspended.

Abalos denied the allegations but admitted that ZTE officials were his «golfing buddies» and had paid for his trips to China.

«China invented civilization in the East, but as well it invented corruption for all of human civilization,» Santiago said during the hearing.

She also admonished witnesses at the hearing for «just fighting over your kickbacks.»

That's just the beginning of good quotes in the article, and each a compelling argument. Yes, it does happen once in a while. Politicians and other public figures do achieve some sort of vocal competence, but it's probably just good staffwork.

The Chinese Embassy gives as good as it gets.

«We believe that the Philippine government and the people of the Philippines will not agree to that. It is known to all that anticorruption is a common task faced by all the countries of the world. Corruption exists not only in China, nor was it created by China,» the embassy said.

«The Chinese government has all along devoted itself to the building of an honest and clean government and combat against all forms of corruption,» the statement said.

«In recent years, the Chinese government has adopted even tougher measures in combat against corruption and achieved prominent results. [We] think people of insight can all see it.»

Aside from the philosophical issues, I think this is why China will always at least stymie the force of international opprobrium against it. It's just a savvy rejoinder. Not only does China have a line to sling, which in someways rivals western universalism (whatever you or I think about that), but it does it such a polite manner. None of the Toxic Texan Two-Step's bravado or the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc's sarcasm.

Finally, for sheer straightforwardness, there's Senator Manuel Roxas II:

«The problem is not China. The problem is that Philippine officials, every time they enter into a deal with China, they use that as an excuse to bypass the regular procurement laws which require bidding. That's the problem, it's not our transactions with China...»

Concerning the particulars of the NBN deal (via The Daily Dose), I'm reticent to comment. I find Philippine politics exhilarating, like a rat on methamphetamines, but the details are a bit blurry still. But, if i have to commit, why reinvent the wheel. especially if it costs more the second time?

But, the two above-mentioned quotes from Defensor-Santiago and Roxas II are worth a really good thunk.