‘Friend to everybody’

This is regarding the Inquirer’s headline, “China military planes land on PH reef” (4/18/18) .

President Duterte said it does not make sense ruining our relationship with China as the Chinese are our friends.

Really, what is the sense in challenging China while it lands planes in some territory that it claims as its own? Yet, we allow the United States, Japan, Australia, Russia, India and many other countries to anchor in our ports.

China and the Chinese have been our friends since years back. Many other races have inflicted hardships, murder, rape, slavery and other crimes upon us. The Chinese in our country were also victims. Whoever said: “Chinese and dogs not allowed” or “Filipinos and dogs not allowed”? Certainly, not the Chinese.

By pursuing an independent foreign policy, we are a friend to everybody and we get aid from China, the United States, Japan, Australia and Russia. We need all the help to improve our lives and make our internal security strong, for as long as the aid has no strings attached.

ANTONIO E. SOTELO, retired lieutenant general, AFP