Duterte VS Carpio

(By Ex Senator Juan Ponce Enrile) A few days ago, I saw on TV a mini verbal tussle between President Rodrigo Duterte and retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio. Their topic was the opposing claims of the Philippines and of China over certain islands, islets, reefs, atolls and sandbars in what we call the West Philippine Sea. Evidently, the clash between them involves two different approaches to a foreign policy concern of the country. Justice Carpio wants the President to take a harder, more assertive, and more aggressive stance against China. The position of Justice Carpio is the best approach, if we have the wherewithal to back it up. But, to me, it is not feasible at the moment under our current national circumstance. All we have right now are our patriotism, our courage, our sovereignty, our rights under generally accepted international law and under UNCLOS, and under our arbitral decision and victory. No doubt our arbitral decision was a great feat and a proud feather on our national cap.

But realistically, we are not Japan, nor a Taiwan, nor a South Korea - not even a Malaysia or a Vietnam - in terms of armed capability. Our economy is not that big and strong enough to enable us to make a credible challenge against a country like China. Our fishermen and our naval and air capability are no match to the swarm of Chinese fishermen, to the swarm of Chinese Marine Militia, and to the swarm of Chinese Coast Guards operating in the contested area. We have too much to lose, if we make a wrong move. If we make a harder, more assertive, and more, aggressive stance, we might imperil our people, our core territory, and our economy. We might even dishonor ourselves in the eyes of the world, if we cannot back up our rhetoric with or military strength. There is no world government with an international police organization to protect us. We have to protect our national interest ourselves. The UN cannot help us against China. It has no capability to enforce its decisions, and its members have their own individual interest to protect. Besides, there is the veto power of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, which include China. Neither can we depend on the United States to protect us against China. It has its own national interest to serve, besides its internal and external problems that limit her capability to help anyone. To me, it is better for us to bid our time, male our economy bigger and stronger, and strengthen and modernize our defense and military capability before we raise our fists..