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.