According to Prof. Dindo Manhit, the most recent survey showed that ninety percent of Filipinos rejected President Duterte’s policy to tolerate the Chinese encroachment.
His decision to abandon the legal victory of the Philippines in 2016 against China’s occupation of our exclusive economic and maritime zone has put our country at a great disadvantage. We’re losing our public domain. The president must be the very first person who should stand up against China to defend our rights.
I am not saying that we should go to war with China. If one day, my neighbor entered my property without permission and swims in my pool, I would drive him away. I will not say “oh it’s okay”. “I will just let you enjoy the clear water because I don’t want you to get angry with me, you are bigger and richer than me. May I borrow money from you?” I would certainly call the village guards, file a written complaint with the barangay and if they don’t stop, I will sue them for trespassing, etc.
This was what some of our well-meaning foreign service officials did in 2013 led by Ambassador Albert del Rosario. They went to Hague and filed an arbitration case against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding the legality of China’s claim of nine-dash line.
In 2016, the arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines but we have not exerted our rights and China refused to honor the ruling and worst, they are the ones who aggressively defend their occupation not only of the islands but bars anyone from entering the airspace and navigation.
China’s occupation is a question of power and not based on international law. They ignore pleas, requests, rulings, pressure from the international community to respect the Philippines’ rights because they know we are weak. They are building a megacity on our property and there’s nothing we can do about it. Sad to say, we are now the outsiders. They are buying time. Before we knew it, 50 years have passed, and the new generation wouldn’t even know the history of that megacity.
The least we Filipinos could do is to keep the issue alive as much as we can.
Instead of vilifying Ambassador Albert del Rosario after he was barred from entering Hongkong, we should express our gratitude to him. For not being afraid to speak and for standing for our country’s rights, RESPECT and ADMIRATION are what he truly deserves.
This. ♥
I fear China’s relentless encroaching of the country. But I fear more that our leader seems to be cowering. Kinikilabutan ako sa mga sinasabi nya.
Unfortunately.
Duterte’s decisions always yielding to China over Philippine sovereignty is becoming a new norm. The sad part is, because his political allies have the majority seats, this only means continued erosion of Philippine sovereignty for the benefit of China.
Ibinenta na tayo.
But a lot of people still support him. His blind followers are everywhere and they are in fact good at mental gymnastics (making excuses for his decisions). I can’t understand why the hell they support this kind of president. Walang malasakit sa mga Pilipino. Tuta ng China.
I hate seeing mainland Chinese in our condo, they are so rude and loud and mayabang. They feel superior and looks down on us Filipinos. Sa elevator palang, they push the close button kahit nakita nilang papalapit ka na. Parang hopeless na ang Pinas, they took over na buying properties here and there and dumping their citizens everywhere.
We should learn from those African nations na biktima ng debt trap. I heard Cambodia is also becoming a lost cause, there are no-go zones for locals coz it has become a Chinese only area.
If you have time Miss Annie, read about Fuga island. China has taken over it. It will become an exclusive domain of China because a certain Fil-Chi businessman sold it.
China is taking over the world and there’s no stopping them.