You can’t make this stuff up, can you?
While in office, former President Rodrigo Duterte sought to
have the Philippines become a province of China, and he undermined the
Philippines’ territorial claim over the West Philippine Sea.
Did Duterte serve the interests of the Philippines during
his presidency, or promote China's foreign policy in Southeast Asia? I believe
it’s the second premise, and that’s a shame because his foreign
policy was preeminently pro-CCP and supportive of Xi Jinping's. He turned his back on the
Philippines' traditional ally, the United States.
Do you recall Duterte's public pronouncement in 2016, when
he said, “It’s time to say goodbye to Washington.” (Foreign Policy, November 2,
2021)
Duterte exhorting Xi Jinping to make the Philippines one of
China’s provinces is somewhat reprehensible, if not treasonous.
The West Philippine Sea and the expanse of the South China
Sea aren’t only strategically important to China’s military expansion in the
Indo-Pacific region. These areas are abundant in mineral resources, including
oil, gas, and other forms of natural gas, and rank among the largest in the
world. Additionally, 12 percent of the global fish catch originates from these
coveted waters. Moreover, around 21 percent of worldwide trade passes through
the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, equating to about $3.4
trillion in annual global trade.
(Photo Credit: GeoCurrents -- geocurrents.info.blog)
China has no legal or historical claim to the West
Philippine Sea. Its assertion of maritime ownership of the West Philippine Sea and/or the entire South China Sea is based solely on the map published by the Republic of China in 1947, titled "Map of South China Sea Islands," which demarcates its territorial claims with eleven dashes, extending from Malaysia in the south to Taiwan in the north. Later on, it was downgraded to a nine-dash line in 1952 when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took over the reins of government from the Kuomintang.
The Hague Permanent Court of Arbitration, an international
tribunal, ruled in 2016 that the Philippines is the rightful claimant to the
West Philippine Sea, which encompasses the Spratly Islands. This ruling is
significant as it upholds the principles of international law and maritime
rights as outlined in UNCLOS. But China, which didn't participate in the trial, defies this international court order
with its relentless military provocations and incursions into the Philippine territory.
Even with the Hague's ruling, Duterte still sided with
China and declared in 2021 that he'll 'throw away' Philippines' arbitral win
versus China, “Sa usapang bugoy, sabihin ko sa iyo ibigay mo sa'kin, sabihin ko
sa'yo putang ina, papel lang 'yan. Itatapon ko 'yan sa wastebasket.” (Phil
Star, May 6, 2021)
China's People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) military
aggressions against the Philippine Coast Guard and the local fishermen's boats
aren't only unlawful but dangerous as well. It should necessitate a robust
condemnation from the United Nations (UN), especially given China's regular
mockery of the legal frameworks outlined in the UN Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS). Unfortunately, even the members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) are hesitant to express their official views on the
PLAN's bullying or Grey Zone tactics in the West Philippine Sea, given China's
primary trade partner status in the region.
But the Philippines have found some great allies in the
United States, the AUKUS alliance (comprising the United States, the United
Kingdom, and Australia), and the First Island Chain countries (including Japan
and Taiwan), which have been vocal in their support for the Philippines and in
their condemnation of China's aggressive actions and military adventurism in
the region.
Might isn't right when a powerful country like China flexes
its military strength to harm and bully a small but sovereign nation like the
Philippines.
It's about time the government of President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. asserted the Philippines' sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
This isn't just a task for the Filipino government leaders but a responsibility
that all Filipinos must relentlessly pursue. Filipinos must unite as a nation
behind the Sun and Stars and stand together in defense of their country's sovereignty.
Right now, President Duterte
is facing trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands for “crime against humanity” while serving in public office, notably as the President; may justice prevail in the court of law, even though Duterte's administration deprived thousands of Filipinos of their legal rights to seek justice--the same rights afforded to him by the ICC.
