by Daniel Long

 

The common refrain from Duterte’s critics is that he turned our country into a “province of China.” Therefore, they argue, Duterte’s supporters are hypocritical for claiming that Marcos’ cooperation with the ICC in implementing their arrest warrant for Duterte amounts to surrendering our sovereignty to foreigners, given our “pro-China” stance. But is this really a valid argument?

This year, the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China celebrate 50 years of official diplomatic relations. China has proven to be a true friend to the Philippines, being the first and, so far, only country to condemn the kidnapping of our beloved President Rodrigo Duterte, who was tried and imprisoned by a foreign European kangaroo court—the so-called “International Criminal Court”—for declaring the successful War on Drugs (WOD). This campaign has resulted in 1.4 million Filipinos surrendering alive for rehabilitation, 58% of barangays being cleared of drugs, and a 74% reduction in the overall crime rate. ​In 2017, President Duterte stated that China was “the only country to come out freely” in supporting the WOD and expressed gratitude for their assistance. In the same year, the biggest drug haul (600kg) seized by Philippine authorities in Valenzuela City was made possible by Xiamen, China authorities, according to Bureau of Customs. The following year, China funded a ₱350 million drug rehabilitation facility in Sarangani province. In 2020, China publicly endorsed the WOD at the United Nations. China has also denied reports by GMA News claiming that Duterte sought asylum from the ICC in their country; after all, China is not an ICC member state.

Under President Duterte, China became our largest trading partner. In 2019, 1.7 million Chinese tourists visited, contributing billions to our economy. We became China’s top banana exporter, and durian was exported to China for the first time. China funded the Chico Irrigation Pump, benefiting 5,000 farmers in Kalinga and Cagayan. They also financed the Kaliwa Dam, providing 600 million liters of water to 20 million Metro Manila residents. China donated the Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon bridges, helping to decongest traffic in Manila and boost incomes for our taxi and Grab drivers. The China-based DITO telco broke the PLDT-Globe duopoly, offering better upload speeds and signal availability. Additionally, China donated millions of life-saving vaccines to the Philippines during the COVID crisis while the US hoarded theirs and even gambled with Filipino lives by spreading misinformation against Sinovac.

Under President Duterte, we did not lose any of our claimed features in the Spratlys. He ordered the repair of our runway at Pag-Asa Island and reopened the surrounding waters of Scarborough Shoal to our fishermen in 2016. In 2021, Masinloc Mayor Arsenia Lim refuted claims that China was harassing Filipino fishermen in the shoal. Joeffrey Elad, Chairman of the Tropical Fish Gatherer Association in Zambales, testified in a May 2024 congressional inquiry that fishermen were actually able to fish freely during Duterte’s presidency.

Under President Duterte, no Chinese serviceman boarded a Filipino vessel, no Filipino soldier lost his thumb, and there were no monthly water cannon incidents. The “gentleman’s agreement” between President Duterte and President Xi was intended to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea. The arrangement to send only humanitarian supplies to our BRP Sierra Madre outpost in Ayungin Shoal existed before 2016, as confirmed by former Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. Our two countries also reached a memorandum of understanding for a 60-40 joint oil and gas venture in the Reed Bank, in line with UNCLOS’ Article 123, which calls for shared development among semi-enclosed South China Sea claimants.

While all patriotic Filipinos should condemn China’s aggressive actions vis-à-vis the “West Philippine Sea” issue, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture. We should not let our territorial and maritime dispute with China define the entirety of our bilateral relations. Malaysia and Vietnam also claim the same areas yet continue to maintain strong cultural and business ties with China. Let us strive for de-escalation by promoting friendship and encouraging diplomacy. On January 28, 500,000 Filipinos gathered at Jones Bridge in Binondo, Manila (oldest Chinatown in the world), to welcome the Chinese New Year by watching fireworks and a drone show. The Philippines and China are neighbors, friends, and family. Together, we will grow in the Asian Century through win-win cooperation for a shared future in trade, culture, people-to-people exchanges, and tourism. ​China has lifted over 800 million people out of poverty in the past four decades, accounting for 75% of global poverty reduction. Let us learn from their success to improve our country’s living conditions. 🇵🇭🇨🇳

#BringPRRDHome

   

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