Critic lauds Aquino for goodwill gains in China visit

Even a critic of the administration had lauded President Benigno Aquino III for the goodwill he generated during his recently concluded five-day visit to China. Sen. Joker Arroyo on Sunday said Aquino’s trip was already worth it when Chinese officials treated him warmly despite last year’s Manila hostage tragedy where eight tourists from Hong Kong were killed, and the territorial row over the Spratlys. “The first benefit of the China trip which is good, it is a goodwill visit. Goodwill in the sense meron tayong problema, naumpisahan sa hostage crisis pagkatapos yung Spratlys. Kung nag-usap ang President of China and Prime Minister and si President Noynoy, okay na yan. If only for that sulit na ang biyahe because we cannot always say or quantify that in pesos and cents," Arroyo, who served as executive secretary of Aquino’s late mother Corazon, said in an interview on dzBB radio. (The first benefit of the China trip, which is good, it is a goodwill visit. It is goodwill in the sense that Aquino got to talk with the President and Prime Minister despite last year’s hostage crisis and Spratlys row. If only for that, Aquino’s trip was worth it. We cannot always quantify that in pesos and centavos.) He said the cost of the trip, as well as the loans and monetary gains from the visit, are not as important as compared to the goodwill. During his visit to China, Aquino said he received assurances from Chinese officials that they will look for a peaceful resolution to the Spratlys row. “Ang reception ng Chinese government kay Pangulong Noynoy despite Spratly, despite the hostage crisis, was very warm. So I think that’s all right, okay na yan (The Chinese government’s reception to Aquino despite the Spratly row and the hostage crisis was very warm. So I think that’s all right)," Arroyo said. As for the pledges of investments from China, he said “only time will tell" if they will materialize in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Arroyo voiced support for Aquino’s potential visits to the United States and Japan. Last weekend, Malacañang said Aquino received invitations to visit the US and Japan this month, but said nothing is final yet. Aquino had initially said he is not inclined to make foreign visits. “There’s nothing wrong with changing one’s mind. Na-realize siguro niya na kailangan (There’s nothing wrong with changing one’s mind. Perhaps he realized such trips are necessary)," Arroyo said. - KBK, GMA News