Rather than get into the tedious details of the accidental killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), let’s just—for the sake of this conversation—take the information as is: A Taiwanese citizen was killed by a member of the PCG in Philippine territory.
This is another foreign affairs issue and if we remember correctly, the Aquino administration and its Department of Foreign Affairs have done a terrible job with foreign affairs issues, going back to the strained relationship with China, which could have partly started from the killing, a few years back, of Hong Kong tourists caught in a hostage situation or from the poor handling and abrupt cancelation of contracts with major Chinese companies, not to mention the territorial dispute over the Spratly Islands.
However, China is not the only one that the Philippines has crossed in a not-so-friendly way, to put it lightly. There was also that Sabah crisis that put the Philippines in a balancing act between Malaysia and the Sulu people of the Philippines.
And all these disputes have strained relations not only with our neighbors, it has also created tensions in our own country. And all that President Aquino has done in relation with these issues has been to put up a stubborn, prideful attitude in which excuses were his weapon of choice and blame was his close ally.
The President cannot continue ignoring these nations and refuse to properly communicate with them. He has to appeal to them on a personal level instead of brushing off their concerns as if they are meaningless. We have to build relations not only with the United States but also with our neighbors.
However, as has been his wont thus far, whether on the home front or abroad, he has been creating more enemies than friends.
—MICHELLE ODEJEYO,
modejeyo@gmail.com