“WELCOME TO the Philippines, Province of China.”
So, screamed the banners hung on pedestrian overpasses around Metro Manila on July 12, right to the day of the second anniversary of The Hague tribunal’s arbitration ruling of the Philippines’ case against China in the South China Sea.
Mysterious as their appearance was, we did not know if the banners were some sick joke, satirical digs, or fanatical kowtowing by minions to the Malacañang line.
After all, did not President Duterte himself express once that if China so desired, the Philippines can become its province, like Fujian.
Notwithstanding the still “good” approval rating of Duterte among his countrymen – per the latest False…er, Pulse Asia survey – his China card appears to be largely all his own.
The results of a survey of the Social Weather Stations conducted June 23-30 and released in the wake of the arbitration ruling anniversary showed that four of five Filipinos are of the opinion that it is not right for the government to “leave China alone with its infrastructures and military presence in claimed territories.”
SWS said a full 81 percent of the 1,200 respondents asked in face-to-face interviews in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao expressed discontent and wanted the government to act on China’s militarization in the West Philippine Sea.
Further, 80 percent of respondents believed it was right for the government “to strengthen the military capability of the Philippines, especially the Navy.”
In what could be an implied agreement with the move of the previous Aquino administration that resilted to the favorable arbitration ruling, 74 percent of the respondents said it was right for the government to bring up the issue to international organizations like the United Nations or Association of Southeast Nations for a diplomatic and peaceful negotiation with China.
Meanwhile in an interview with Radyo Pilipinas, presidential loudspeaker Harry Roque fulminated: “Baliw lang ang gagawa niyan dahil araw-araw ay tinuturuan natin ang ating mga kabataan na kumanta ng Lupang Hinirang tapos sasabihin mo na tayo maging kaparte ng isang dayuhang bansa. Iyan po ay talagang hindi [lang] mga sira-ulo; iyan po ay walang pagmamahal sa bayan, mga traydor, mga walang hiya.”
Lunacy becomes Duterte then? He being the originator of that Philippines, Province of China yarn. Harry, your slip is showing.
