Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Shun China’s aggression

- Dear Editor, Reni M. Valenzuela renivalenz­uelaletter­s@yahoo.com

Filipinos can’t allow themselves to be forever bullied by China. The Chinese must know this.

We’ve done our best to go the second and third and fourth mile to settle our maritime issue with them in a peaceful way and in accordance with internatio­nal laws for too long. Our government’s numerous diplomatic protests/pleadings over China’s aggression­s apparently just fall on deaf ears as the Chinese officials are likely treating them to be just pieces of garbage.

Let Beijing be told this time in the clearest, strongest terms that, even by hook or by crook, they can’t steal/invade our patrimony and sovereignt­y. God forbid but should push comes to shove in the West Philippine Sea row, we will fight to the end, defending our territory with the same gallantry and heroism as the Ukrainians do in the face of Vladimir Putin’s carnage and invasion of Ukraine.

China should read Rizal and Bonifacio, better yet the entire Philippine history from ancient times.

“Kalakip din nito’y pag-ibig sa bayan. Ang lahat nang lalong sa gunita’y mahal. Mula sa masaya’y gasong kasanggula­n hanggang sa katawa’y mapasa-libingan... Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya sa pagkadalis­ay at pagkadakil­a gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa? Aling pag-ibig? Wala na nga, wala (It also includes love for the country. Everything more than the memory is expensive. From the womb to the laughter of the grave... Which love can be greater in purity and greatness than the love of the native land? Which love? No more, nothing).” — Andres Bonifacio

The motherland has been wronged many times on the issue, yet in each instance, our government responded in meekness and “silence”. But the time to shout and be heard has come. It’s time to tell China loud and lucid:

“ENOUGH! Stop your bullying and illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea and dismantle your illegal structures in the area. That causes tension/crisis. Build them somewhere within your own territory. Then let us talk. Respect internatio­nal maritime laws if you can’t respect your neighbor. The WPS is ours.” Read Ezekiel 38.

The recent decision/action of Bongbong Marcos to expand the Enhanced Defense Cooperatio­n Agreement or EDCA with the United States of America as our partner and faithful ally/friend is a step in the right direction. The president is on track. It is equal to sending China the much-needed, long-overdue message exactly as it is, “Enough!”

Meanwhile, a few “Filipino” pundits are happily committing treason. They look every inch Filipino, yet whose Filipino blood could be put in big, big doubt/question. They discuss the WPS like they are more Chinese than the real Chinese. What’s their motive? They aggravate the problem for Filipinos because the Chinese officials read/listen to them while all the world (in their right minds) simply ignores them. It’s high time for these lost sheep to return to the fold or be told the same thing, “Enough!” Ibigin ang bayan.

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