"I am not for a splayed-legs national security policy."
"I am not for a splayed-legs national security policy."
If Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo can’t seem to say anything right, his best contribution would be to keep his silence on matters outside his area of competence. Speaking in the aftermath of the two-day state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Panelo said no nation, not the US nor the United Nations, can enforce The Hague arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines.
That sounds like abject surrender of our sovereign right in the West Philippine Sea where China is staring down our Navy and shooing away Filipino fishermen. As it is, many Filipinos protesting China’s aggression in our territorial waters and pushing its boundaries through a nine-dash line in the South China Sea were aghast that Panelo seems to be speaking more for Xi Jinping rather than for the Philippines. I’m not advocating a saber-rattling stand against China but let’s also not convey a splayed legs national security policy.
Even if it’s true that the US nor the UN cannot enforce The Hague ruling rejecting China’s sweeping claim of nearly the entire South China Sea, why should Panelo publicly concede it? That would embolden further China’s aggressive stance in the region. Why not keep the Chinese guessing whether the US or the UN will step in to intercede in this incendiary issue?
If Panelo has an iota of knowledge of international relations, he should know that the US or the UN are not the only ones who would help defend the Philippines. Countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia also have stakes in the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea lanes for their commercial cargo vessels.
International issues are best left to Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teddy Locsin, the former Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. But Locsin was kept busy by the two-day state visit of the Chinese President so it was Panelo who answered questions on the enforcement of The Hague ruling.
Aside from the sensitive oil and gas joint exploration deal, the Senate wants to review the 28 other Memoranda of Understanding signed between Manila and Beijing. I cannot comment on these MOUs since I am not privy to their details. Vice President Leni Robredo also urged Malacanang to be transparent and make public the contents of the MOUs.
Somehow the 60-40 sharing scheme of the oil and gas joint exploration was leaked by whistleblowers inside Malacanang. Critics pounced on the deal despite the 60-40 sharing in favor of the Philippines. Why should the Philippines share with China oil and gas exploration when it is in the West Philippine Sea—our sovereign territory? Since the equipment and other technical tools in the exploration will surely be provided by China, what is the guarantee the Philippines will get its stipulated bigger share of the deal? The critics’ question, not mine.
Malacañang officials point to the country’s railway, bridges and other infrastructure projects China is financing as the benefits we are reaping in the close ties with Beijing. But critics claim the Philippines is falling into China’s debt trap.
Acting Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonio Carpio disputed China’s historic claim to the entire South China Sea which cited Chinese explorer Zheng He’s visits to Manila, other parts of Luzon and the Visayas way back in the old days of pre-Philippine-China relations. But just because Zheng He visited these parts of the Philippines does not mean China can lay claim to the waters well within our territory.
Carpio, a staunch defender of Philippine territorial sovereignty, insists the country also has ancient maps disputing China’s historic claim. Maps are better evidence than self-serving claims written by Chinese historians, he said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros also urged President Duterte to assert Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine and not kowtow to Xi Jinping. But of course her concern and of the opposition Liberal Party will simply be dismissed by the administration as obstructionist reaction. Fortunately, the Senate decision to review these deals is a bipartisan action. We can expect Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez to be in the hot seat to answer the senators’ probing questions.