One day we will raise howl vs Beijing — Duterte
Criticized for his nonchalance toward China’s military buildup in the West Philippine Sea, President Duterte has reiterated there’s no use fighting a powerful nation and “wasting” the lives of Filipino soldiers.
“So I told the Chinese now occupying West Philippine Sea, may araw rin… Huwag ngayon kasi hindi – wala, hindi kaya eh (the day will come, not now. We can’t do it),” Duterte said on Friday in remarks in Bukidnon at the inauguration of the Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center.
“Huwag ka masyadong dreamer na idealist ka. Kay hindi uubra sa gobyerno ‘yan (Don’t be too much of a dreamer and idealist. It doesn’t work in government),” he added.
He again stressed the Philippine military is no match to the Chinese armed forces and that his friendly approach has reaped more benefits for the Philippines.
“I cannot go to a war and waste the lives of my soldiers. Ano ba sa… gusto mo ipapatay mo at first round pa lang (Do you want them killed just in the first round)? You know reality, it’s always good to dwell on reality,” the President said.
Duterte maintained that the Philippines would eventually dig oil in some areas in the West Philippines Sea, as he had directly told Chinese President Xi Jinping during their bilateral talks.
“Sinabi ko talaga kay Xi Jinping, harap-harapan (I told Xi Jinping to his face), ‘I will enter the West Philippine Sea and I will dig my oil’,” he said, apparently to emphasize to critics that he had not been remiss in strongly reminding China of the Philippines’ rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile, acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said the Philippines should turn to the United Nations General Assembly for help in making China comply with an arbitral tribunal ruling invalidating Beijing’s massive claim in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea.
“After we won, we should’ve come to the assembly, asking the world for a resolution for China to comply with the ruling. That’s a ruling already. Lahat naman ng bansa sa South China Sea, susuporta sa atin (All countries in the South China Sea will support us),” Carpio said in an interview over dzRH.
Carpio was part of the legal team that won the case at the UN-backed tribunal based in The Hague.
“The general assembly has no compulsive power, but it is the world’s opinion. China cannot afford to be isolated. It must have good relations,” he stressed.
The arbitral tribunal ruling, he said, should be “preserved” and enforced as the Philippines is armed with “world opinion.”
“The ruling should be preserved so that the next administrations can use it,” Carpio said.
“We have to protect it today so that our grandchildren will enjoy it,” he added.
He explained that the Philippines can enforce the ruling without China’s participation by signing sea border agreements with Vietnam and Malaysia.
“How do we enforce the ruling? We don’t have to ask China. Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam can agree na ito ang teritoryo nila (regarding territories),” he added.
He warned that China wants to have for itself the rich resources in the South China Sea.