For the past weeks Chinese Coast Guard vessels have been aggressively attacking with water cannons our Coast Guard ships and harassing our fishermen and maritime researchers, in violation of our sovereign territory in the West Philippine Sea. News item: “PSG: PINSALANG TINAMO NG BRP BAGACAY UMABOT SA HALOS P3M.”
The fact is these aggressive territorial encroachments by China have been ongoing since 2016 when Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte took over as president of the country. Social media has often pointed out that these clear violations of our sovereignty were practically caused by the former president who dared even shamelessly speak about the Philippines becoming a “province” of China. Afraid of being “red-tagged,” socmed enthusiasts, dismayed by the Chinese bullying, had to subtly make hints that it was indeed the former president who encouraged such imperialist moves. As a result, our fishermen have long been unable to freely carry out their livelihood in our own territorial waters. Also, our marine scientists could not safely do their maritime research. This is an important task for our scientists, which we cannot afford to neglect, given the rich maritime resources we have yet to exploit for our own benefit.
Fortunately, the truth is out: in the May 5, 2024 issue of Inquirer, we read “Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said former President Rodrigo Duterte waived the country’s sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc [Panatag, or Scarborough Shoal] in a ‘temporary special arrangement’ with China in 2016, which was disclosed by the Chinese Embassy in Manila in a statement on May 2.”
We wonder how the Uniteam Leaderhip will respond decisively on the many clear violations of our sovereignty by China, and no less important, the secret “temporary special arrangement” of Sara Duterte’s father with China’s President Xi Jin Ping. Will President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, singly or jointly, come up soonest with a clear strong patriotic decision regarding China’s imperialist actions in our territories? And, of course, will these same topmost public officials also act decisively on what many public commentators have been saying as a “traitorous agreement” made by Sara Duterte’s father with President Xi Jin Ping?
The Filipino people are waiting for the President and Vice-President to make a hard-nosed statesmanlike decision that will. if possible, completely stop China’s violations under the UNCLOS and its attempts at becoming another imperialist power oppressing our people and exploiting our country’s natural resources.
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