Chinese-Owned Online Gambling Businesses Banned in the Philippines

July 23, 2024 TruthUSA

Mr. Marcos emphasized, “The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop.”

Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos has declared an immediate ban on primarily Chinese-operated online gambling businesses, alleging their involvement in criminal activities in the country.

“The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop,” Mr. Marcos stated during his state-of-the-nation address before the Philippine Congress on July 22.

His decision to outlaw these Chinese-operated online gambling businesses followed a crackdown supported by Beijing as these websites targeted Chinese customers, where gambling is prohibited. There are over 400 Chinese-operated online gambling businesses throughout the country that employed tens of thousands of foreign workers from China and Southeast Asian nations.

The crackdown led to the closure of several large complexes where authorities believed thousands of workers from Southeast Asia and Chinese nationals were working illegally and under harsh conditions.

“Operating under the guise of legitimate entities, their activities have expanded into illegal ventures beyond gaming such as financial fraud, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, abduction, severe torture, and even murder,” Mr. Marcos remarked.

These Chinese-operated gambling establishments, also known as Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), are situated in the Philippines but cater to overseas clients.

Mr. Marcos asserted that the complete prohibition of these gaming sites will address various issues confronting the Philippines.

He instructed the country’s gaming authority to phase out and cease POGO operations by the end of the year, receiving enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation in the Philippine Congress. He also tasked labor and economic officials to identify alternative employment options for Filipino workers affected by the shutdown.

In 2022, the Philippines shut down at least 214 illegal Chinese offshore gambling sites in a government crackdown, deporting the first six of nearly 400 detained Chinese workers.

His ban order comes amid escalating tensions with the Chinese communist regime over the disputed waters in the South China Sea, where both Beijing and Manila have conflicting claims.

‘Cannot Yield, nor Waver’ South China Sea Position

During his address, Mr. Marcos affirmed that his country “cannot yield, nor waver,” in its South China Sea position and reiterated that it will explore avenues to ease tensions without compromising its stance and principles in the contested region.

He also emphasized that the Philippines aimed to resolve these disputes through diplomatic channels.

“Proper diplomatic channels and mechanisms under the rules-based international order remain the only acceptable means of settling disputes,” he reiterated.

On July 21, the Philippines and the Chinese communist regime reached a “provisional arrangement” for resupply missions to a Philippine outpost to prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

Since 2023, the Philippines has encountered numerous volatile incidents and harassment from Beijing within its exclusive economic zone at its outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal, part of the disputed Spratly Islands. The Chinese coast guard frequently intervenes aggressively to block the Philippines from replenishing its troops at the outpost, employing water cannons and ramming Philippine vessels. In a recent clash on June 17, several Filipino sailors were injured, with one losing a finger.

Last week, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated that the United States will take necessary measures to ensure Manila continues its resupply missions at the Second Thomas Shoal.

Mr. Marcos mentioned in his address that the Philippines is “continuing to strengthen [its] defensive posture, both through developing self-reliance and through partnerships with like-minded states.”

The Philippines is intensifying efforts to forge security alliances to bolster its military’s limited capacity to safeguard Manila’s territorial interests in the South China Sea.

Earlier this month, Manila and Japan inked a mutual defense agreement to enhance their defense collaboration. This pact marks Japan’s first defense accord in Asia. Additionally, the Philippines is already bound by a 1951 mutual defense treaty with the United States, obligating both nations to defend each other in case of an attack.

Source link