I’d say without fear of contradiction that China does not respect the Philippines, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and specially the 2016 arbitral ruling of the International Arbitration Court in the Hague denying China’s ownership claims of most of South China Sea based on China’s so-called historical nine-dash-line boundaries.
As of this writing, there were two more water-cannon incidents involving Chinese vessels against a routine resupply and rotation mission to BRP Siera Madre, a grounded old ship stationed at the Ayungin Shoal. On Sunday, December 9, two small Philippine vessels, M/L Kalayaan and BRP Cabra were water cannoned, causing severe damage to the former’s engines, and damage to the latter’s mast. Both incidents endangered the crews’ lives as well.
A day before and prior to this incident, the China Coast Guard (CCG) also water cannoned a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel carrying oil and other supplies for our fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal.
These latest actions by China against the Philippines are a clear indication of China’s disregard for our sovereignty and our fishermen’s human rights. China, despite all bilateral talks between our presidents Marcos Jr. and Xi Jinping, and other lower authorities, UNCLOS, and the 2016 international arbitral ruling, China always talked of peace but never compromised its belief and pronouncement that most of South China Sea is theirs. China has built military installations in many parts thereof, reclaimed islands even within our Exclusive Economic Zone, and stationed militia vessels and Chinese Coast Guard ships all around our country. All diplomatic protests by the Philippines, numbering hundreds have fallen on deaf ears, and China condemns the Philippines’ military exercises with its allies, including the United States, Japan, and Australia in South China Sea.
China would have invaded the Philippines easily without the mutual defense treaty of our country with the United States, and the outward support of strong countries like Japan, Canada, Australia, and other Western nations. Without it, China would also have had easy access to Taiwan, a prize that China’s Xi Jinping dreams as his major accomplishment. The main problem really is the Philippines, because we’re blocking his way. And the U.S. and other western allies are ready to block China, as well.
In reaction to the latest water-cannon incidents, the Philippines’ Senate President, Juan Miguel Zubiri called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to expel Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, back to China. Zubiri sought the ambassador's expulsion -- for doing nothing -- after the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) consecutive actions against Philippine vessels over the weekend, first in the Scarborough Shoal, and then in the Ayungin Shoal.
I fully agree and support this call of Senate President Zubiri. The Philippines has to do more than just diplomatic protests that have been ignored by China since Day 1. China has simply considered our small country a “nobody” deserving no response but media falsehoods claiming that Philippine vessels were illegally entering China’s waters! Another senator, Joel Villanueva, stated that China’s might doesn’t give that country the right to water cannon our vessels and block humanitarian missions within our boundaries.
Perhaps President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is still weighing what to do with our relationship with China, our major trade partner and infrastructure fund debtor. Perhaps there are several problems facing him should he decide to sever ties with China completely. For example, several major energy and telecommunication facilities in the Philippines are majority-owned by China!!!! And that’s just a small sample. Our economy seems tied up with China and it is the Chinese community (whether or not Filipino-Chinese) that owns our economy!
All Marcos said a day ago in reaction to these recent China aggression was:
“The aggression and provocations perpetrated by the China Coast Guard and their Chinese Maritime Militia against our vessels and personnel over the weekend have only further steeled our determination to defend and protect our nation's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.” Marcos said in a statement released via the president’s official account on X (formerly Twitter).
Well, Mr. President, we Filipinos are here ready to fight if necessary. Remember what General Douglas McArthur said long time ago: “Give me ten thousand Filipinos and I will conquer the world!”
True, we are small, in height and built maybe, but we have big brains and strong determination to fight for our country until the end…
