Matters of Fact - March 25, 2021

In this episode, Christian Esguerra talks about the swarm of Chinese fishing vessels all over a reef located well within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. The Chinese embassy in Manila claimed that they were not part of the so-called Chinese maritime militia. But members of the international community, including the Philippines have expressed alarm. Is this really a prelude of what is feared to be occupation of this important reef located within the EEZ of the Philippines?

But before diving deep into the West Philippine Sea issue, he first tackles the state of Philippine hospitals amid the ongoing COVID-19 surge, and the performance of the country's Interagency Task Force against COVID-19. Have they done well or poorly, and does this merit an overhaul of the agency?