VP Sara Duterte doubles down on China issues
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte over the weekend stressed the need for the country to maintain friendly relations with China even amid an ongoing territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
READ: Sara Duterte: Gov’t using Laos travel, China issues to ‘take me down’
Duterte made the pronouncement as she cited the volume of Filipinos working in China, including Hong Kong and Macau.
“Kapag nasira ‘yung relasyon ng Pilipinas at ng China, ay mawawalan ng negosyo at trabaho ‘yung ating mga kababayan,” said Duterte in a speech in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong on Sunday.
(If the relationship between the Philippines and China breaks, our fellow countrymen will lose their businesses and jobs.)
“Kaya kailangan talaga na i-maintain iyong good relations sa People’s Republic of China,” she added.
(That is why it is truly necessary to maintain good relations with the People’s Republic of China.)
The vice president then acknowledged the country’s ongoing plight in the West Philippine Sea, particularly its ongoing territorial dispute with China.
Instead of criticizing Beijing’s continuous encroachment in Philippine waters, however, Duterte advised the current administration to consider how big of a threat China is.
“Totoo man, meron tayong girian sa West Philippine Sea. Pero dapat iniisip ng pamahalaan: Gaano ba kalaki ang baril ko?’,” Duterte said, while making a gesture raising her pinky finger.
(It is true that we have a dispute in the West Philippine Sea. But the government ought to consider: Just how big is my gun?)
“‘Gaano ba kalaki ang baril ng kalaban (how big is the enemy’s gun)?’” she added, this time, making a raised fist gesture. “Ulo pa lang. Pinupokpok na ‘yang maliit mo na baril. Ulo pa lang ng baril niya, ha?” she ended.
(Just with the tip—they’re already pounding that little gun of yours. And that’s just the tip of their gun, mind you!)
This, she said, is the reason why the government should be focused on finding “balance” and consider that there are other aspects in the ties between the Philippines and China.
She once again cited Filipinos who continue to look for jobs overseas, including China—which she said is rooted in the fact that the Philippines cannot give them the opportunities and the jobs they need.
“So hindi kita aawayin para lang sa territorial dispute (so I won’t pick a fight with you just because of a territorial dispute),” said Duterte.
Diplomatic team
“Ang ginagawa dapat diyan ay bumuo ng isang team, ng mga diplomats. At ‘yun ang ipadala mo doon sa kung saan man nila gusto makipag-usap … hindi siya basta na lang tira ng tira lalo na malaki ang baril ng kalaban mo,” she added.
(What should be done is to form a team—a team of diplomats—and send them to wherever the other side wants to hold talks … you shouldn’t keep lashing out verbally, especially when your opponent is armed with a much bigger gun.)
Duterte clarified that she was not only referring to China in saying that the Philippines should maintain friendly relations with other countries, explaining that it should be applied to all other foreign powers.
“Kasi meron tayong independent foreign policy. Ibig sabihin, ang interest lang ng Pilipinas ang ating pinopromote. At nasa interest natin na maganda ang relasyon natin sa People’s Republic of China,” she said.
(Because we have an independent foreign policy. This means that we promote only the interests of the Philippines. And it is in our interest to maintain good relations with the People’s Republic of China.)
In doing so, Duterte said the Philippine government should not carry the interests of any particular politician, business person or foreigner.
The Philippines and China have been embroiled in a long-running maritime dispute after the latter made sweeping claims—the so-called 10-dash line—over the South China Sea including the West Philippine Sea, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The 2016 Arbitral Award which stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013 already invalidated China’s claim, but it continued to deliberately ignore the ruling, consistently encroaching on Philippine waters. /gsg
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