Patriots

The situation in the South China Sea has given certain people the opportunity to play patriotic games. Unfortunately, the South China Sea situation calls for something more realistic and practical instead of playing make-believe. There is a need to firmly address the facts as they are and accept the hard truth in all its bitterness.

And just what are the facts, as how the Philippines needs to confront them? The facts are that we own bits of territory in the South China Sea, both historically and legally but that we are not in actual or effective control of some or all of them. And while that ownership has been validated and recognized by international bodies, the one exception is where it matters the most.

And that one exception is China. China not only does not recognize our ownership of our bits of territory, it also does not recognize any other claim but its own. In fact it claims to own the entire South China Sea. Now it is tempting to delude ourselves that it is just a claim, like that of so many others.

But the unassailable fact is that China has backed up its claim with actual control and occupation. And neither the United Nations nor the International Court of Arbitration, both of which recognize our claims, has lifted a finger to enforce their own conclusions.

Even the United States, to which we initially looked up for support and defense, has been reduced to making noise and token gestures, but nothing substantial and realistic to change the picture. Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, the Philippine government decided to just make the best of the situation.

So instead of being confrontational, in which case we stand to lose more than what we already have, President Duterte decided to befriend China and make it pay without making it appear as a payment but the cost of friendship. In the harsh realities of global geopolitics, one has to be ready to accept what one is dealt, no matter how wrong, cruel, and unjust.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio is correct that we have the right to protest China's actions. But that is just the legalistic view and will get the Philippines nowhere. Vice President Leni Robredo is correct that it is insulting to have China "allow" us to fish in our own seas. But that is just emotion and pride and do not really matter in how things work out on the ground.

And much as I hate to admit it, but even Antonio Trillanes is right that the Philippines may have scaled back its military patrols in the area. But Trillanes forgets it is sheer folly to let sheer bravado result in any needless loss of lives. What real courage demands is honesty to accept reality. One does not have to die to be a patriot.

‘We own bits of territory in the South China Sea, both historically and legally but we are not in actual or effective control of some or all of them.’