On the eve of Chinese New Year, 6 Catholic bishops penned a performative & provocative letter condemning China for allegedly not following international law & bullying Filipino fishermen, and called for lawfare, recourse to “friendship of allies” if diplomacy fails, and non-appeasement.

First of all, bishops, diplomacy has succeeded. The two resupply missions of 2024 to BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal have been flawless, this is because the PH government kept protocol and did not send construction materials. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian has said he only follows the guidance of President Marcos, the chief architect of foreign policy, and not warmongering provocateurs. China has even reiterated their commitment for the 60-40 joint gas venture with us, this will make us energy independent and generate trillions for our people.

The United States is not even a member of the United Nations’ Laws of the Seas, nor are they even a claimant state in the Spratlys. Do you have colonial mentality that you think it is the “white man’s burden” to solve a dispute among Asians? American interest in the South China Sea is to ensure “freedom of warship navigation”often with nukes, not protecting our fishermen. How can you say it is “morally necessary” to “have recourse” to the US and the West? The same West that provoked Russia’s takeover of Ukraine killings 100,000+s? The same US that funds and arms the Israelis killing 20,000+ Palestinians in Gaza? Do you believe that the US that has 800 military bases around the world and bombed the Middle East for 30 years for oil is a “moral” agent? You denounce war, yet ignorant of the 2011 US “Pivot to Asia” policy which positions 60% of their naval presence in Asia to maintain US dominance.

When will you exhort our fishermen to be more responsible in fishing? In 2015, it was found that 90% of our coral reefs were already in poor condition due to dynamite/cyanide fishing. When will you rebuke our fishermen for fishing in the lagoon of Scarborough Shoal, which is a breeding ground and marine sanctuary? China blocking them is an exercise of protection, not harassment. Will you condemn Vietnamese fishermen who are the most frequent poachers in “our waters?”

You talk about international law? The 2016 arbitral award which the United Nations via spokesman Stephane Dujarric said they had “no position” on the “legal or procedural merits” of the case? The Permanent Court of Arbitration is not even an official United Nations agency nor did it deliver the decision, it was a mere registry and performed administrative tasks! Lawfare did not work! As President Marcos Jr has said, the situation in the South China Sea is a “gray area”, a territorial dispute exists and screaming “what’s our is ours” like spoiled brats does not solve the problem.

Dear bishops, let this wisdom of the 2016 arbitral award you love so much sink in:

“The root of the disputes lies not in any intention on the part of China to infringe on the legal rights of another, but in fundamentally different understandings of their respective rights in the South China Sea.” (Paragraph 1198) So much for your “bullying” narrative.

   

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