No decoupling

For a nation that has sought UN- backed international arbitration and is calling for a rules- based approach to settling disputes in the South China Sea, the Philippines must serve as a model in complying with its commitments to the United Nations. One can’t turn to the UN for support in maritime disputes, and then turn its back when it comes to other matters such as respect for human rights.

Yesterday President Duterte, although still grumbling about criticism of his brutal drug war, clarified that he was only joking when he warned he would pull out the Philippines from UN membership. The President had issued the warning amid reports that the UN was looking into gross human rights violations in the ongoing war on drugs.

The other day the presidential spokesman also clarified that Duterte was merely asserting national sovereignty when he warned the UN against interfering in Philippine internal affairs. The spokesman reassured the public that the Philippines would not be “decoupling” from the UN.

The incident should impart lessons in circumspection in issuing statements with international repercussions. The world has become a global village, with countries interdependent on many aspects including the economy, law enforcement, public health and national security.

The Philippines turns to other countries for support on a wide range of activities including the ongoing peace process with Islamic and communist rebels, disaster relief and climate resilience efforts, and in fighting terrorism and transnational crime. The Philippines must also maintain friendly ties with the world because over 10 million Filipinos are working in nearly every part of the planet and in many of the commercial ships. No man is an island; the same is true for nations.