Envy the Philippines’ brave, defiant neighbors

The editorial, “Sangley surprise” (1/10/20), gave me mixed feelings of anger and sadness.Anger because the present occupant of the palace by the Pasig with his much-vaunted bravery looks like a lame lamb who stoops so low and bows condescendingly before the giant dragon, while our neighbors

Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam are showing unmistakable mettle and defiance against the common “enemy.” Malaysia is “unfazed by threats of Chinese reprisal.” We can only feel envy at the statement of Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah: “If we are to fear that, we will not submit our claim.”

The words of Indonesian Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan was more enviable. “I would not sell our sovereignty for investment,” he said.

I am saddened, because all these are in stark contrast to what the Duterte administration has been doing with regard to Chinese intrusion into and occupation of areas we have won in the international court of arbitration. Mr. Duterte’s braggadocio that he would “jet ski” to our territory now appears like a whiff of hot air that has frozen in the atmosphere.

RAMON MAYUGA,

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