Owner of the Philippines’ Largest Malls Says China Feud May Hurt Businesses

  • SM Investments vice-chair says group ‘cautiously optimistic’
  • Teresita Sy-Coson calls for peaceful strategy on disputed sea

Teresita Sy-Coson

Photographer: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg
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Escalating tensions in the South China Sea are making the owner of the Philippines’ biggest lender and shopping malls cautious, urging the government to not be hostile toward its neighbor and to steer clear of the US-China competition.

“China is very close to us, we cannot be too antagonistic,” SM Investments Corp. Vice Chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson told reporters late Wednesday on the sidelines of her company’s event. “Even though we know what is happening, I guess we have to do it through a more peaceful negotiation,” Sy-Coson added.