When President Bongbong Marcos proposed recently a new paradigm to address the continued belligerence of China in the West Philippine Sea, many were left guessing?
What would the novel idea be? Would it be political, military, diplomatic? It is something out of the blue or box?
In the wake of the latest water-cannon incident on two Philippine ships that shocked the Filipinos anew, no less than Filipino senators called for a tit-for-tat response. If Chinese vessels can fire at us at will with water cannon,so can we, or should be as a proper response.
But nobody can predict exactly how the Chinese will respond in return. It could get worse. Not a few fear this could happen.
PBBB has come out with a better answer. Why not apply a blblical principle most every Christian Filipino knows by heart, if seldom practiced? Do not use? something wrong against a tactic that is inherently wrong and objectionable like an unjurious water cannon against an enemy. Just don’t, period. The wisdom in the answer is obvious. You don’t answer evil for evil.
It may work. In her book the “Good earth” about China by Pearl Buck a Chinese businessman ran away from poster being given away by Christian missionaries. The poster had the picture of a man crucified on the cross and it horrified him after knowing what it was all about. Has China been running awayfrom cross ever since and buck has making her point subtle and nuanced? Buck knew whereof she wrote: she was a missionary’s daughter raised in the Ancient Kingdom
Does the way of peace had the same effect on belligerent mind?
In a way, it was part obviously of the strategy of PBBS’s predecessor, Made sense. There is no use fighting a war you cannot win,. Only it it was too subservient a tactic it was perceived as a virtual surrender, encouraging more aggressiveness and belligerence,
In his book, 1984. George Orwell predicted the use of lies by authoritarian governments to impose their will in what was called “newspeak” where the meaning of the a word is exactly its opposite.
All this ongoing belligerence by China in the WPS revolves around this fictional theme. Her nine-dash-line theory for instance, has been found to be without basis. Other previous statements since then by Chinese authorities have been disproven by Philippine authorities a merely lying on their teeth. The latest is the so-called ‘secret” arrangement with the Philippine government every one denies. Duterte, of course, in a fairness to the Chinese, has been mum about it. Could it be a fool’s errand?
The Chinese have announced publicly they are the Filipinos kind friends iin this part of the world. They have sent help in the part, especicaly during the pandemic with Chinese vaccines that saved many fron COVID. But it apparently, such a friendly gesture had a cost: sovereignty,
And PBBB has made it clear that it will not surrender an inch of the country’s territory for the sake of friendship. No way he will.
His declaration was unmistakable about his determination . He has since makes his alliances with other countries to dr[ve home his message. He has signed a stronger pact with the United states and sought new and better alliance with countries like Japan, Australia and France and others .
There no is doubt the Philippines now stands stronger and, in a way, braver, to face the future in light of the threat to her covereignty. The Chinese warrior Sun Tzu said, it is better to win without fighting. PBBM’s decisive” n to firing water cannon back with water cannon is the way to do it.
It seems a balanced approach the ongoing security problem of the country against China. There is deterrence and way forward to peace. So far, it is an open shut situation and PBBM is keeping an open mind to what can work in the direction.
In the meantime, there appears to be a need to secure the homeland against spying from China found to be carried out continuously and massively through the gambling operation called POGO. There is a way to that and that is to eradicate it immediately. Local governments must be on the look out for such nefarious schemes. The secretary of the local government has a tough job do.
The whole world knows who is the culprit of the WPS problem, the Philippines is simply protecting its own territory and sovereignty against a new hegemon. There is no retaliation kind in the mind of our leadership. The way to peace, even turning the other cheek, so to speak, is shown to achieve that end.
But the country is at the ready if push come to shove. PBMM is making a calibrated move every step of the way. You cannot ask for more. Nor anybody can, Even China..
