After observing and reading all the news reports about the aggressive acts of China in the West Philippine Sea, that have steadily aggravated the situation over the last three decades, ordinary Filipino citizens can only seethe in anger silently.
Beyond the security and sovereignty aspects of the dispute, the continuing harassment of Filipinos by the China Coast Guard and Chinese militias within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has gone too far, triggering an awareness in us that our national pride and self-respect have been and continue to be severely challenged.
The persistent bullying by China and, in a larger context the overall relationship between China and us, are the most compelling and complicated our country has faced in modern times. This is because our relationship is ambivalent and our national leadership is understandably stymied in any given situation as to how to address untoward incidents in our relationship. We have had many bilateral talks with China but each time, China behaved differently afterwards. After such dialogues, it occupied Scarborough Shoal. Then came the construction of artificial islands within our EEZ.
The behavior of China toward us is downright condescending, which treats the Philippines with disdain and contempt. How else would you describe these responses from China: (a) it proposed joint military exercises between the aggressor and its victim; (b) when our former president implored the president of China “to be kind to my country,” a few days later the China Coast Guard fired water cannons at our vessels at Ayungin Shoal; (c) China is activating talks about a code of conduct in the South China Sea after demonstrating its misconduct in Ayungin Shoal.
The diplomatic challenge to our President vis-à-vis China is formidable and will summon the utmost patriotism, courage, and wisdom from him and his team. It is a David confronting Goliath, a rider on the back of a tiger. Unfortunately, there is not much comfort from the inarticulate secretary of foreign affairs in this respect. And none from us except the humble proposition that our foreign policy must be based on the assumption that China is not a friend, but a predator. And when we are lured into the talks on a code of conduct, through the auspices of a compromised Association of Southeast Asia Nations, do not give up the 2016 Arbitral Award and make sure that the Code does not condone past violations of international law, but must rectify them instead.
This is a time for unity and we empathize with the call of the Philippine Coast Guard for support and for Filipinos not to betray their country. For indeed, there are a few critics who continue to devalue our 2016 arbitral victory and others who, wittingly or unwittingly, are acting like lackeys of our powerful neighbor.
Ancheta K. Tan,
ancheta.tan@cltpsj.com.ph