Former Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. on Wednesday said that it would be more beneficial for the country if Kamala Harris wins the US presidential elections.
In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Jose Cuisia Jr. issued the remark when asked how a Harris presidency would affect the country’s stock market.
“Sa tingin ko kasi, ‘yung may continuity at stability ang ino-offer ni Kamala… Kaya sinasabi ko mas kapaki-pakinabang sa Pilipinas kung siya ‘yung manalo,” Cuisia said.
(From what I see, Kamala offers continuity and stability. That is why I believe it would be more beneficial for the Philippines if she wins.)
Meanwhile, Cuisia said the country’s exports will become more expensive should Donald Trump win the elections as he seeks to impose higher tariffs.
“Magkaka-impact ‘yan sa stock market. At ‘yung stock market nila, meron ding impact sa stock market sa atin kasi ‘yung mga foreign investors na nasa stock market natin siguro aalis dito at they will look for safe haven,” he said.
(That will have an impact on the stock market. And the US stock market will also have an impact on our stock market because the foreign investors in our stock market will probably leave and look for safe haven.)
“Siguro not even the US stock market. Papasok sila sa ibang asset. E di lalong maapekto ‘yung mga exports natin sa US,” he added.
(Maybe not even the US stock market. They will go into other assets. So that would affect even more our exports to the US.)
WPS
Though the elections will have an effect on the stock market, Cuisia believes that the results will not affect the US’ position on the South China Sea amid tensions between China and the Philippines.
The US State Department has previously condemned what it called “escalatory and irresponsible” actions by China and reaffirmed its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines amid incidents in the disputed waters.
“Kasi kailangan din nila ang Pilipinas to counter ‘yung aggression ng China. Lalo na kasi China wants to control the South China Sea. Ayan talagang lalabanan ng US ‘yan. Kasi more than $5 trillion of trade passes through the South China Sea,” he said.
(Because they need the Philippines to counter the aggression of China. Especially since China wants to control the South China Sea. The US will really oppose that. Because more than $5 trillion of trade passes through the South China Sea.)
“Kaya ang priority ng Estados Unidos ‘yung freedom of navigation. Kaya hanggang ngayon marami silang aircraft carriers, destroyers na dumadaan sa South China Sea,” he added.
(That is why the priority of the US is freedom of navigation. That’s the reason why up to now many of their aircraft carries and destroyers pass through the South China Sea.)
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China’s claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had “no legal basis.”
China does not recognize the decision.
Ties to remain strong
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez on Sunday said the alliance between the Philippines and United States will remain strong regardless of who wins the US presidential election.
“Para sa akin medyo kalmado tayo na I don’t think we’re going to have a major change in the policies of the United States as far as our alliance is concerned,” Romualdez said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
(For me, we are kind of calm that I don’t think we’re going to have a major change in the policies of the United States as far as our alliance is concerned.)
Romualdez said he talked to both the camps of Harris and Trump and they assured him the foreign policy will be the same.
There will be no changes in the implementation of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States regardless of who will sit as the next US President, Romualdez said in another interview on Monday.
Signed by Manila and Washington in 1951, the MDT is a defense pact that unites the two allies to help defend each other from aggression.
Fil-Ams
Meanwhile, Cuisia said Filipino-Americans may have a lot of effect on the US elections on Nov. 5 (US time) as many reside in swing states.
However, he said that the results of the elections still seem to be “very close.”
“Hanggang ngayon mukhang very close pa rin. Lumalabas lang ‘yung mga resulta sa ilang state, sa mga estado, gaya ng Massachusetts at Virginia na panalo ni Harris. Pero masyado maaga pa rin,” he said.
(Up to now, the race is very close. The results in some states are already out, such as in Massachusetts and Virginia which were won by Harris. But it’s still too early to tell [who will win].)
READ: Trump, Harris notch first statewide wins as polls close in US presidential race
—KG, GMA Integrated News
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