Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Duterte, China, and the West Philippine Sea: The President's Betrayal

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. 


Monday, September 19, 2022

Five Stars! The Reader's Favorite Book Review of Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra


        https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/project-grandslam-the-zhongguo-orchestra

Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra by Jos Ilagan is a political thriller with strains of religious themes. York Ryder is a photojournalist tasked to cover US Secretary of State John Berzowski’s diplomatic delegation to the Philippines. However, things don’t go as planned, and before they knew it, Berzowski is killed and there are bomb threats.

Ryder was then given a new assignment: figure out who killed the secretary, locate the bombs, and make sure the killers don’t get a chance to kill anyone else. With the USA allies offering no help, Ryder works with the CIA and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to figure out who did it. Turns out Hong Kong’s Kowloon Dragon is behind it all, and their next target is the President of the United States. The Kowloon Dragon has major plans, and it looks like York Ryder has to stop them before it is too late. 

Entertaining from the very start, Project GrandSlam & The Zhongguo Orchestra opens with an intriguing scene and makes you wonder if Ryder is more than just a photojournalist or a government agent. However, it is also a nod to Ryder’s capabilities as a journalist and as a reliable protagonist for readers.

The story is very complex and intriguing. Readers are always looking for the next clue, the next twist, and the next turn; however, they are never able to guess what will happen next.

Author Jos Ilagan maintains the suspense of the story even when we know the culprit. You can never guess what will happen next and if Ryder will be able to get the job done or not. The characters are well-rounded, they have space to develop and grow, and this is all a reader needs from an author! Fantastic!


Tuesday, July 9, 2019

A Basic Study of Postal Bomb: A Guide to Personal Security Measures