Press Release
October 1, 2019

Statement of Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China

We congratulate the People's Republic of China on its 70th anniversary, especially on its biggest triumph: lifting 850 million people out of the 1.9 dollars-a-day abject poverty line. This has meant over 70% poverty reduction worldwide.

We stand in solidarity with the people who marched and fought and won their liberation in 1949. As young student activists in the 1980s, many of us were inspired by the teachings of Mao Zedong, who had said, "Let a hundred flowers bloom." We commend its leaders who put priority on feeding its people. We have personally seen the effort its bureaucrats made to focus on food production.

As the most populous country in the world, China holds the key to reversing the destructive effects of climate change, including the overheating of the planet beyond the survival of our future, all our children's, all our children's children's.

While our two countries have sensitive territorial issues between us, we hope to be able to resolve them peacefully and judiciously, ensuring not only that the hungry are fed but that the planet remain livable.

The dragon has awakened, and its neighbors are feeling the heat. As it moves forward to achieve more of its economic and political targets, we trust that it will act beyond its national interest to include the planet's.

News Latest News Feed