The tweet I did not publish
“The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” by Russian artist Viktor Vasnetsov, via Wikipedia
By JoeAm
I admire political cartoonists. They do their eloquent drawings with exaggerated features and sharp-tongued captions and people know it is an intellectual message wrapped in satire or humor. Not a personal slur. The cartoonists seldom get sued for libel.
But in the Philippines, big shots are not used to being pilloried. They are sensitive that their honor is impugned, even if criticism is not about THEM, but about their decisions. Even straight news gets them running to the new cybercrime law to exact revenge. Ask Maria Ressa about that. Or consider the fake news kangaroo court held by the Senate a while back that was not about government’s propaganda deceits, but the hurt feelings of supposedly macho senators whose vote was criticized. huhuhu
Well, the incident of a Chinese boat ramming a Filipino boat and then running off to leave the fishermen to their fates brought forth a lot of mealy-mouthed rationalizations from Duterte’s men, Panelo and Locsin, and even eventually the right dignified Lorenzana. Anger and indignation did arise from educated Filipinos who do understand what is going on, that the weak and compliant Philippines is bending over once again to please China.
Why such mealy-minded compliance, we can only guess.
So, in a bitterly satirical moment, I penned . . . and deleted . . . the following tweet.
The four whoresmen of the apocalypse bend over and take one for China.
A religious or literary person would get the four horsemen of the apocalypse play on words. They’d understand that whoresmen means Philippine leaders are selling something to China and it ain’t sex (or maybe it is, I dunno). The apocalypse is the Philippines, of course. And the Philippines is being fucked by China up the dark and deep (my apologies to the children and priests in the audience.)
I think there are no devoutly religious or literary souls in government, not even the cerebrally masterbatorial Locsin who prides himself in himself. So they would not grasp that my cartoonish tweet was an INTELLECTUAL exercise protesting the lack of protest from the leaders of the Philippines. They’d take it personally.
And devoutly religious or literary souls not in government might chuckle and grimace at the fact that they are represented by such weakly-sovereigned people . . . and that’s all. Nothing would happen.
Well, if the leaders of the land don’t understand or care, no need to tweet something they would mis-comprehend. They’d not be bright or character-endowed enough to say, “Oops, I am not standing firm and courageous for the nation. I need to lead.”
So that’s why I deleted it. It was a sharp spear thrown into the wind and flopping uselessly to the dirt.
I do wish I could draw though . . .
But then again . . . it wouldn’t be a pretty picture.
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
Apocalypse himself(Duterte not PH)did not even complain, at least the whorsemen protested or did they?
Locsin did say before that he has been filing diplomatic protests he is just not need to update us.
NO PROBLEM HERE GUYS
Ok, let us grant the incident of the two fishing vessels — one Filipino, the other Chinese in the WPS — in the best possible light for the Chinese: the Chinese vessel did not innocently ram into the stationary Filipino vessel [the technical maritime word for that is “allision,” so the DFA even says]. But the Chinese still had the obligation under the UNCLOS International Law to come to the rescue of the 22 Filipino fishermen which the Chinese did not.
But here is the important thing: both Chinese and Filipino guys in their respective vessels are just fishermen. What do they know about the UNCLOS international maritime law? Or the Chinese fishermen were in fear of their lives or their vessel fearing the Filipino fishermen will be enraged and run amok — the UNCLOS even so provides this: “Every State shall require the master of a ship flying its flag, in so far as he can do so without serious danger to the [rescuing] ship, the crew or the passengers … to proceed with all possible speed to the rescue of persons in distress.”
So you see, Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no problem for the Chinese here — the Filipino fishermen just suddenly found themselves in the waters of the Chinese Lake, er West Philippine Sea. End of story.
But here is Senator Drilon urging the DFA to file diplomatic protest against China:
https://senate.gov.ph/press_release/2019/0613_drilon1.asp
ON THE OTHER HAND
Here is a report of the Chinese statement from its Embassy:
In a statement, the embassy, however, claimed that the Chinese fishing boat Yuemaobinyu 42212 was “berthed” at the area when seven or eight Filipino fishing boats “besieged” it.
Read the rest here:
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/china-says-chinese-vessel-in-recto-bank-incident-besieged-by-philippine-boats/ar-AACSTC5?ocid=spartanntp
Here is Mirriam Webster on “besiege:”
1. to surround with armed forces as in “The army had besieged the castle.”
2a. to press with requests : importune as in “besieged by the media.”
2b. to cause worry or distress to : beset as in “doubts besieged him.”
What besiege did the Embassy mean. Ah, but that is diplomacy for you.
The posting has since been removed. I suspect the Chinese ambassador was leaned on by Duterte’s staff, explaining that they are making it impossible for PH Govt to defend China. All good will would end. Note President Duterte’s silence as the situation plays out.
Thanks for the latest on this.
Thanks for the latest development.
LANGUAGE AND LOGIC JUAN AND JUANA DE LA CRUZ CAN UNDERSTAND
I came back with the wife from our local wet market. I had a chance to scan the tabloid paper stand and saw this headline in the paper, Saksi:
TAPANG IPATIKIM SA CHINA: Hamon kay Du30 sa pagbangga at pag-abandona sa Pinoy fishing boat
Neri Comenares: “He threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Canada if it will not take back its garbage. Pres. Duterte should also make similar demands for the attack on Filipino citizens in our own Recto Bank.”
The language can strike a good chord on Juan de la Cruz because it hits his gut literally — food on the fishermen and family’s belly.
The offensive Chinese ‘explanation’ post that was taken down has been put back up.
Trouble is brewing. DDS cannot easily defend Duterte on this if he excuses China.
More on this. This from the Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad:
What made a Chinese vessel come into contact with a Filipino fishing boat and cause it to sink at midnight on Sunday in Recto Bank was no accident but a deliberate maneuver to ram the smaller craft, Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad said yesterday.
“The Filipino vessel was anchored. So when based on the International Rules of the Road, it had the privilege because it could not evade… The ship was rammed. This is not a normal incident. The boat was anchored,” Empedrad said
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/philippine-fishing-boat-was-rammed-–-navy-chief/ar-AACTg5I?ocid=spartanntp
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/philippine-fishing-boat-was-rammed-–-navy-chief/ar-AACTg5I?ocid=spartanntp
AND HERE IS SENATOR LACSON WEIGHING IN
Sen. Panfilo Lacson backs the account of the Philippine Navy that it was a Chinese vessel that hit the boat of resting Filipino fishermen on Reed Bank in the South China Sea.
In a statement, Lacson says “there is no reason to doubt” since it was already the position of Rear Adm. Robert Empedrad, the flag officer-in-command.
Lacson also opposes the position of President Duterte spokesperson Sal Panelo who said the administration will not politicize what could be an ordinary incident.
“Even if it was an accidental collision as claimed by [China’s] spokesperson, it will not mitigate the criminal offense of abandoning our people to die in the high seas,” Lacson says.
“Worse, an admonition issued by the (presidential) spokesman (Sal Panelo) not to politicize the incident only worsens the situation,” he adds.
Panelo’s statement echoes that of China’s Foreign Ministry.
https://www.philstar.com/happens/696#zxAUHSKil08oUjg7.99
How about Bato, Go and Imee Marcos? Deafening silence?
An incident like this severely challenges those inclined to pursue self-interest ahead of national well-being.
One last item.
What was done to Sen De Lima, CJ Sereno, and the many deaths of drug addicts may not have galvanized the masses and the military to an effective protest. But this ramming of the Filipino fishing boat by the Chinese fishing boat may just do that. The military knows when an issue is important for the masses in a cause everyone can understand clearly without the accompanying legal mambo-jumbo. And we know the praetorian guard is the military not Bato or Go.
“this ramming of the Filipino fishing boat by the Chinese fishing boat may just do that.”
Agree – the arrogance and contempt of Mainland China was made visible in this incident. Much like the Japanese habit of slapping provoked many a Filipino during 1942-1945.
Not just contempt per se, contempt for the life of Filipinos makes this much, much more than the almost already forgotten taho-throwing incident.Though usually contempt per se translates to contempt for life, the arrogance of racists worldwide often becomes murder.
*****
Every incident has a timeline of events. One has to understand the timeline to get the real story.
China’s explanation of “berthing” and being “besieged” makes no sense.
Here is part of the timeline as reported by Rappler from details told by a survivor:
“After two hours, the two Filipino crew members reached the boat. Based on its appearance, they were able to determine that it was from Vietnam. They rowed to the rear then according to Pascual, he yelled ‘Help me!’ His call awoke a Vietnamese fisherman, who then called for his mates.” [Bolding mine.]
Two hours. The Chinese boat abandoned the Filipino fishermen.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/233079-how-filipino-boat-crew-was-saved-west-philippine-sea
*****
Thanks for that link. I had read it just a while ago. Life or death drama on the high seas.
Can someone explain why Locsin want to “F… the international community”. Seems that every official is trying to outdo the boss in the fineries of high level official speech.
*****
The Lone Ranger was rejecting calls to seek help from the international community.
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/176277/no-way-jose-says-locsin-in-nixing-calls-to-tap-intl-help-vs-china-aggression
*****
*****
The Lone Ranger seems to draw his gun first even though he is firing blanks.
Now, he appeals to the International Maritime Organization.
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/176365/locsin-ph-to-appeal-to-imo-over-recto-bank-incident
*****
That’s what Sen Trillanes recommended last week. When leaders act for the Philippines, the lines of opposition disappear. One can only speculate why Duterte seems out of step.
The boss is silent until now. Maybe if asked about his silence he will tell us, that is the job of Locsin.
His point was that one cannot really depend on any other state. The Philippines should take care of her own business. It was a correct view (in my opinion) inartfully expressed.
According to my mom, Locsin’s always been an edgelord. I was too young when he was still rubbing elbows with other veteran journalists back in the days, some of them who used to chastise him for it.
And I disagree with you on that it was a correct view. If we’re talking Internal/Domestic affairs, then he’s correct. But we’re talking Foreign Affairs and he’s the DFA Sec. Have you read all his wonderful tweets?
You and I know very well what he means by “F the international community” He’s been embracing his boss policies by being totally undiplomatic, uncouth like his boss.
When China was still under the Last Emperor, the Philippines had the US to back it.
When China was under Mao, the Philippines had the US to back whatever claims it wished.
The Philippines never really claimed the South China Sea, so China finally powerful (like starting in the late 90s) took it.
Sure, good things come to those who wait, but not the South China Sea. Like Ariana Grande sang,
My wrist, stop watchin’, my neck is flossin’
Make big deposits, my gloss is poppin’
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yeah)
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yeah)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_conquest
It’s gone, folks, switch your fishing operations to the other side now, the Philippine sea— before it’s too late.
Reed Bank is still on Philippine territory – theoretically, practically it is dangerous.
Trouble is, if you keep retreating, where does the other side stop?
Let us say China fully takes Reed Bank, is Palawan next?
The eerie wreck of the BRP Sierra Madre stays on the Second Thomas Shoal, technically still a manned warship, so the Chinese try to blockade it, but NEVER ram it.
Of course there is Thitu or Pag-Asa – the runway was built in Marcos times, the anti-aircraft cannons on the island are rust by now but Filipinos still live there..
The first to actively claim the Kalayaan Group was Marcos, with US backing.
But there is of course a bit of a stand your ground principle in international practice. One has to back it up though. The Soviet Berlin blockade had the Allied airlift against it.
The building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 had Kennedy coming to show solidarity, and the legendary US-Soviet tank standoff at Checkpoint Charlie. At the most primitive level, international relations are a game of chicken. Conferences are just the “sitdowns”.
Question is, what allies does the Philippines truly have – potentially – and what allies does it have in reality? The unreliable, wavering attitude of the Philippines may lead others to consider it as an unreliable ally, always demanding but not giving. And changing always.
More than any country, the Philippines should know all about “squatters” and “squatting”, you sit some place long enough, it’s yours.
Because they didn’t sit on these shoals and tiny islands, someone else did.
Sure, they can keep pushing back diplomatically on South China Sea— it’s like pissing in the wind, you’ll just get wet w/ your own pee. Let the U.S. handle South China Sea, if the Philippines really wants to participate copy what Iran’s doing (if not, sit it out).
But Philippine sea is where the Philippines needs to be squatting now (and fishing), before the Chinese arrive there as well.
For all intents & purposes the South China sea is lost— Palawan is uncontested land, why the US is based there , partly. But if there are still tiny islands that the Philippines is actively squatting on in South China sea, sure stick with it don’t give it up.
My point , is simply be realistic, take ownership of the Philippine sea now, so those fishermen should be encouraged to ply the opposite sea. Unless you wanna utilize them ala China.
Another thing too, is what sort of fishing vessel carries 22 bodies there? Was it like this boat or bigger??? it’s a bit too many, no???
I get that it takes 20 Filipinos to pump gas over there, but I thought the fishing in general would more efficient, ie. why carry more than necessary. So I’m now curious what type of fishing vessel was rammed, if it warrants 22 bodies on board.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/232960-photo-filipino-fishing-boat-sank-by-chinese-vessel-west-philippine-sea
This one:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157223740794002&id=654279001&ref=content_filter
Though many of the crew were on bancas.
One of the bancas rowed 4 nautical miles to get help, finding the Vietnamese.
Initially some of the bancas tried to approach the Chinese ship for help but were rebuffed.
That must be what they call “besieged”, much like nearly every move a black man makes in the US seems aggressive to certain cops.
That’s exactly how I envisioned the fishing boat (was confused about the 22), basically a large banca. So essentially , it was this large banca with smaller bancas roaming around fishing.
Explains the 22 crew now. Thanks.
p.s.– Not that it’s popular in the South China sea, Ireneo, but sure a swarm of smaller bancas could easily be construed as a pirate attack, etc. err on the side of safe, i suppose.
I’ve been critical of political leaders in the Philippines who try to ‘normalize’ the incident. Panelo accepting the Chinese plea not to politicize it. Villar saying we should not go to war over it (fallacious reasoning). And I’d object to excusing the Chinese in any way given the facts coming in as to the clear intent to ram and flee. If the Philippines is to be a nation, she must learn to stand firm on such horrid offenses, not go mealy mouthed and subservient.
I’m curious now if Filipino fishermen are DU30 supporters. Maybe work this angle, ie. “We’ve always voted in favor of DU30”, “now, we want our president to stand up for us”, etc.
I’m actually also surprise that Vietnam fishes that far away. What would’ve happened if Vietnam did it, and China did the rescuing???
But if Vietnam also gets rammed by China, maybe have Filipino and Vietnamese fishermen meet up and form some sort of fellowship, to make rescues such as these, the norm???
Filipino fishermen have Philippine coast guards to protect them (ideally), Chinese fishermen have Chinese navy/coast guards, who’s protecting the Vietnamese fishermen so far out there???
thinking as a Californian, why don’t you guys find some cute animal to defend that lives in the South China sea, to garner international attention, have more environmentalists out there plying the open seas, with HD cameras. maybe a dolphin, or sharks people like sharks here nowadays.
like this cute fella, then have Filipina actresses/singers promote said protection of whatever species you chose,
Talking in terms of the Philippines being accountable for its own destiny, able to form alliances and shape them to benefit the Philippines. His tweets are obnoxious, and I read most of them. He does respond when I make remarks addressed to him and often I learn something.
Forming alliances, Joe? He just insulted the international community.
We are talking about the disputes aren’t we? His remark was in relation to a series of tweets
by netizens calling for action with the help of the international community and that is how he responds?
You’re giving him far too much credit just because he writes eloquently. The guy was a nutcase as a journalist/diplomat and still is. Doesn’t help that he’s a mouthpiece and a China apologist just like his bend-over, pants around the ankles “President”,
I’m giving him the same consideration I gave President Aquino, the right to a personality, the right to do things differently than I do, and throw in the recognition that a yellow will not have the job under Duterte (we could get another Cayetano), and the best I can do is keep a line of communication open with him, and press on for good thinking and good decision-making.
Yeah but those series of tweets was not “good thinking”.
Curious, is there someone in Trump admin you’re giving the same consideration to?
Btw, Happy Father’s Day.
True, but from my perspective, I either consider him as having the potential to do good things or just shout into the wind or give up. I’m not sure what shouting into the wind or giving up accomplish. I don’t engage on Trump, so it is different. I’d strain to find anything to like or trust about Miller, Bolton, and the Donald, but if I found they were reading my tweets, I’d listen to them differently.
Thanks for the Father’s Day wish. It was a totally rich family day for me.
Yeah maybe that’ s why you should still engage with American tweeters
from time to time. Can’t have one set of rules for another admin you slightly don’t like and another set for another admin you don’t like either.
It isn’t two sets of rules. It is two sets of priorities.
The one time Duterte spoke against China was when he was in Japan.
If I can draw conclusions from that I would say he is sailing on two rivers, but I am not good with metaphors and I am not good with drawing.
Now, he is quiet about the topic, after many speeches and post speech questions, no opinion yet.
*****
If Duterte made a sound, it would be a squeak.
Xi has him by the balls.
*****
Correct.
He called for an emergency cabinet meeting supposedly for tomorrow but cancelled it.
Was a reason for cancellation given? Really bizarre.
I can’t find any reason given.
The executive secretary just said it is cancelled.
Panelo has no info, Lorenzana said it will proceed unless told otherwise .
It is bizarre
It was also announced that Duterte would be meeting with the captain and cook, who identified the boat as Chinese.
Like Alan would say: Breaking Fake news
Duterte spotted in Children indoor playground looking for his balls 🙂
So they wohld proceed without Duterte and call it a joint cluster meeting.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1130816/no-cabinet-meeting-called-only-joint-cluster-meeting-nograles-clarifies
Ah,thanks.
Welcome.
Breaking: The Captain of the rammed vessel backed off from his meeting with President Duterte. He’s upset that Energy Sec Cusi does not believe they were intentionally rammed.
Thanks for the update, Joe.
In other news, Sen. Escudero is outraged that two young men were executed in his province. People only feel the drug war when its fall out hits close to home.
Very true.
I looked at old news of Escudero and the drug war and he was not that silent, but not as vocal as his usual self on other issues.
Maybe he’ll stay loud now.
Maybe because it already hit close to home and he is the Governor now.
*****
This is significant. A lowly fisherman saying no to the president.
About time.
*****
Even if Cusi is one of the most experienced cabinet member in the maritime infustry, Matitime affairs is not his turf.
To correct my self Cusi is the MIMAROPA cabinet officer for regional development and security, it is his turf after all.But too say that it is just like a fender bender is the original sin of this so called ordinary maritime accident.
Ah, thanks for that info.
Pleasure.
Duterte’s silence is in keeping with my comments below that his strategy of Chinese rapprochement is now at great risk because of the blatant arrogance and egregious behavior of the commandeered chinese trawler fishing fleet. That at the cabinet level has responded by minimizing the incident as an accident and lower level Chinese officials hamhandedly put the blame on the anchored Filipino fishermen or dismiss the incident as just another typical fishing mishap is not surprising. It is in the Duterte regime’s interest to to preserve Duterte’s rapprochment agenda and China needs to keep the Philippines as the showcase for a bilateral instead if a multilareral approach in dealing with its vast territorial and marine claims. Clearly there is overwhelming prima facie evidence that Filipino fishermen were deliberately rammed and abandoned by the trawler captain; presumably out of scorn for their powerlessness and the righteousness of their 9 dash claims. So Duterte is at an inflection point where he has to confer with Beijing about his predicament where he hff as to deal with the popular public outrage and clamor from the incident with some gormN of Chinese concession or apology. Best case is he is genuinely upset with this provocation and concerned that if Beijing does nothing, maybe his present strategy needs reconsideration.
I may be wrong but the most plausible scenario is that China provides financial compensation for the boat and to the fishermen, and if absolutely necessary even an apology for the incident. Perhaps Duterte can even claim credit for intervening directly with Beijing and securing the latter. But my long view is this will not be an isolated incident and the attitudes of the Chinese trawler fleet and the necessity for the Filipino fishermen to wander further from coastal waters will lead into more frequent and serious incudents.
Thanks Caliphman.
As for Financial compensation, it may not yet be from the Chinese government but a group of Filipino Chinese businessmen offered to shoulder the repair of the boat and give some aid to the fishermen.
Duterte breaks his silence. Surprise, it is a little maritime incident!
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1131245/duterte-breaks-silence-on-sinking-of-ph-boat-its-a-little-maritime-incident
“I do wish I could draw though . . . ”
Joe, you could have yourself ghost-drawn. 🙂 Think of the interminable number of zings you could deliver on-graph.
🙂
sonny, those hopeless at drawing (meself included) can certainly holler, heckle, shout, scream and maybe throw rocks, eggs, tomatoes, and maybe, the odd missile too. I got an old pair of smelly sneakers that badly needed to connect with someone, I just have not found someone worthy, lol!
I had fantasies that i could draw and watched in silent envy as I watched my seatmate doodle away in grade school. I still remember his name. He became a news anchor with Duds Rivera at the old DZMT. 🙂
I think you mean “take one FROM China.”
But you certainly get bonus points for “cerebrally masterbatorial Locsin”!
Leave it to Dturd to appoint a pompous little twit as Foreign Affairs Secretary who is so vainglorious as to publicly say “Fuck the international community.”
That’s sure to impress his pansy-elite drinking buddies from the Democratic Republic of Bumfucklandia, he hopes.
You just can’t can’t make this kind of stupid shit up, because it would seem too ridiculous to be plausible.
Truth or fiction? The administration has announced a new national motto:
“Grab your ankles, Philippines!”
My prepositions have become Filipinized. Yes, ‘from’.
Certainly a lot of people are doin stretching exercises . . .
The incident of the two vessels just shows that our “leaders” do not represent the Filipinos. I am not sure of whom or what they represent, but it’s certainly not the Filipinos.
> I am not sure of whom or what they represent, but it’s certainly not the Filipinos.
It’s Mammon.
All this reminds me of the French and English “scallop wars” featured last summer. I’ve not heard anything since, so maybe the two nations did some right. worthy of emulating???
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/28/french-and-british-fishermen-clash-in-scallop-war-skirmish
“Stones were thrown and boats rammed on Tuesday morning, in the latest of a series of incidents dubbed “scallop wars”, as French boats try to protect stocks of the shellfish.
“My heart goes out to the British fishermen who were caught up in the terrible scenes that we saw happen earlier this week,” the environment secretary said.
“They were fishing entirely legally, they had every right to be in those waters and we talked to the French authorities in order to ensure that we have a protocol.
“These are French waters – it’s the responsibility of the French to ensure that those who have a legal right to fish can continue to fish uninterrupted.”
Government sources said the British ambassador to France, Ed Llewellyn, had formally raised the issue with officials in Paris, and the agriculture minister, George Eustice, would hold talks with his French counterpart.”
==================================
Realistically though it’s China’s waters now– de facto. Every time a Filipino vessel goes out, they should be equipped with HD cameras, like the French and English vessels above. It’s an act of protest every time Filipinos go out there, have cameras.
OR, do what Iran’s doing in the Gulf, if not Iran whoever it is 😉 , sabotage operations!!! If China blames the Philippines, simply point to Vietnam, or better yet Brunei, those princes are too busy with their orgies anyways. Get creative.
Good suggestions.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
It seems there is a current of similar sentiments about this most recent incident in the Recto Bank at the WPS. Joe expressed it above and here is the usually Left-Leaning journalist, Satur Ocampo:
It may take a while before we can get a full picture of what really happened within Recto Bank (which is part of the Philippines’ extended economic zone), and what definitive step or steps the Duterte government would ultimately take. But it would seem harder now to resort again to reticence, as in earlier proven incidents of Chinese incursions. [Emphasis, mine.]
It seems to me the significance of this sinking incident is enormously underappreciated. What is at stake is Duterte’s gambit of shielding the Philippines from Chinese territorial ambitions by ceding its legal marine rights and embracing China’s divide and conquer approach with other countries threatened the enforcement of its sweeping 9 dash claim. That this gambit is likely bound to fail is increasingly evident and with it a humiliating collapse of Duterte’s Chinese approchment strategy.
There is wide consensus that the Chinese fishing fleet, their coast guard, and their naval forces all act in concert to seize and maintain over Chinese territorial claims and are used selectively to avoid accusations of using brute military power to enforce its claims. It can very well be that the Chinese fishing trawler acted pretty much on its own in imparting to the hapless Filipino fishermen an object lesson on whose waters they were fishing in. This of course would go against official Beijing policy of working with Duterte to show that a bilateral approach of accomodation would be in the best interest of China and other Asean countries sharing contested waters. But this is probably not going to be an isolated incident as the Chinese trawlers are less disciplined and compete for diminishing fish resources not only with their own fleet but against “poaching” Filipimo fishermen.
So its not surprising that Locsin will toe the line between overtly saying protests have been filed and whilst spouting profanity like his boss in condemning the use of international courts or alliances to deal with the incident. Nor is the Chinese official response shifting blame away from their trawler or minimizing the incident as just another marine accident. But it is increasingly apparent that as China consolidates its power and arrogance over its control of disputed territories, more egregious incidents are bound to follow and the Duterte regime will have to contend with with the outcry from the military who still feel dutybound to protect against overt acts of foreign aggression not to mention the public outcry against it.
ayay! maybe I sound out of place but. I have yet to see the military put down its odious feet of clay. okay, so they got paid higher than usual, fattened and bought more like, their spouses must be uber happy to be dripping in jewels, shopping overseas and buying designer clothes not readily available in pinas, be the envy of common tao, hawak kasi nila ang presidente at ang kaban ng bayan, lol! until such a time as the military says enough, and maybe, return part of their gargantuan pay that is bleeding pinas dry, then the military and uniformed personnel are not better than the chinese! sorry to say.
thank you, mister president, but no thanks, we have enough.
I dont know if it is the duty of the military to receive and receive and receive yet again higher pay rises and higher still and yet have very little productivity except maybe keep their uniform spotless and well pressed, their shoes shiny as mirrors, keeping the president up and about and in good swearing form, lying and corrupting all the while, lol!
This makes a whole lotta sense.
Deng Xiaoping’s “24-Character Strategy”
Deng Xiaoping’s “24-Character Strategy” first emerged in 1990 in response both to the global backlash from the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and to the CCP’s sense of alarm following the collapse of the communist states of Eastern Europe.49 The strategy provided basic principles on how China should protect its national interests while increasing its interactions with the world. The “24-Character Strategy’’ has been roughly translated as:
“Observe calmly; secure our position; cope with affairs calmly; hide our capacities and bide our time; be good at maintaining a low profile; and never claim leadership.”
As stated in a 2010 essay posted on an official CCP website, “Hide our capabilities and bide our time, make some contributions” and related thoughts were put forward by Deng Xiaoping for the ‘special period’ of the late 1980s and early 1990s, in the midst of sudden changes in Eastern Europe and the collapse of the socialist camp. . . . Currently, there are people in other countries who have produced misunderstandings and distortions of ‘hide our capabilities and bide our time.’ These people believe that China’s foreign policy strategy has a long-term, undeclared content and purpose:
This is that China believes that its current strength is insufficient, and the time has not yet come to announce and implement this great strategy, and consequently must ‘Hide our capabilities and bide our time,’ concealing the true situation and waiting for the right time of opportunity. . . . However, this is . . . a serious misunderstanding and distortion of the ‘hide our capabilities and bide our time’ idea stated by Comrade Deng Xiaoping . . . the original idea of using the expression ‘hide our capabilities and bide our time’ was the strategy of ‘developing ourselves,’ and not at all to ‘seek revenge on others’ after we have developed.”
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/24-character.htm
Ex-Sol Gen Hilbay opines that we should get Global attention for the ramming incident.
This runs counter to Locsin’s take of staying away from international help because attempts to solve it on our own must be done first. ( Loosely translated to FTW (not for the win)).
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/176412/global-attention-on-boat-ramming-incident-a-must-says-ex-solgen
the world’s attention is at the moment, hongkong. though hillbay could well be in the right tract, in the meantime po, I so wish every pinoy to get behind the captain of the rammed banka. he said no and stood up to duterte, did not want to go to malakanyang and met with digong, fearful yata of his own safety and angry his story was not believed. cusi already has given the fishermen an inkling of what is to come.
so what did happen to the meeting? last I heard the other fishermen proceeded to go to malakanyang sans their captain. and right after the captain said he’s not going, bwelta kaagad ang palasyo na no meeting is scheduled kuno. confusing. and now, the mayor of town that sided with the fishermen is suspended from duty, has graft charges brought against him.
ahh! had the captain gone to malakanyang, bong go would have lots of photo ops, lol! the captain forced? coerced? asked? to sign waiver and wont be talking to media anymore, ever, methink.
also, tsinoys from the chamber of commerce who were supposed to go to malakanyang (and have their photo ops as well) giving millions of ‘donation’ to the fishermen, gone aground din yata po sila. if the tsinoys really did want to help the fishermen they know where mindoro is and can go there, give donation directly to the fishermen. they may not be pictured in the hall of fame in malakanyang and given fanfare, but help is help, no string attached, unlikely sa tingin ko po, the tsinoys foregoing their pound of flesh!
that’s my skewed thinking. pardon.
I respect your opinion, but may I ask what you have against the military? Just asking.
As a disclosure my father is a retired military officer.