ROTC can’t resolve WPS problem

Recently, supporters of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program have been poking fun at those who are using the slogan “Atin ang West Philippine Sea,” while also opposing the ROTC’s revival.

What I find funny (if not disturbing), though, is how some people are led to believe that the West Philippine Sea issue with China can be resolved through armed confrontation, and that asserting our sovereign rights is futile without preparing for war, i.e., having a mandatory military training that teaches students blind obedience and instills in them a culture of violence. The maritime dispute between the Philippines and China can, and must be resolved in a peaceful manner through diplomatic dialogue.

But first, we must reject the notion that the Philippines is under the protection of the United States, whose business is to preserve its hegemony and dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. Allowing the US to intervene would only escalate the situation. Instead, the Marcos administration, if it’s not really in the business of instigating wars, should demand that both China and US withdraw their military presence in the country, and call upon China to abide by the 2016 ruling of the international arbitral tribunal. The last thing we need is to be led into a war situation not of our own choosing—a war between two imperialist powers.

Daniel Aloc,

tierra.giya@yahoo.com