The duplicity of the Duterte administration never ceases to astonish us. After welcoming with open arms China’s invasion of our territories in the West Philippine Sea, it now wants the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States reviewed for its “vagueness” about the “US commitment to defend the Philippines in case a third country attacks its territories in the South China Sea” (“Review of US-PH defense pact urged,” 2/8/19).
Do our foreign affairs and defense officials really believe their US counterparts are as stupid as they are?
Filipinos themselves think such droll pronouncements are nothing but arrant nonsense.
In fact, we have become the laughingstock of other Asian countries that continue to protest China’s brazen “might is right” occupation of islands they claim as theirs.
Such protest may be futile, but “qui tacet, consentire videtur (silence implies consent)”!
That is exactly what Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has been urging this administration to do, but all in vain.
Where will Mr. Duterte and his minions hide in shame when this nightmare of a government is over? With China already dug in so deep, can future administrations undo what they have foolishly done with finality?
Matching might with super-might, the United States can enforce “freedom of navigation,” but not our feeble claim to any territory there. Indeed, snoozers, losers!
ARNULFO M. EDRALIN, armed_2d_teeth@yahoo.com