Monday, March 27, 2017

Are you for the PHILIPPINES or CHINA? Re: How About Acts of Filipino Honesty an




How about you, don't you care about the Filipino fishermen?

So what if the Filipino elites don't care about our fishermen? They are just about one percent of the population.

The remaining 99% among us, whether we care or not, we are adversely affected by the Chinese prohibition of fishing by Filipino fishermen in the disputed areas within  our EEZ. Prices of fish rose in the local market owing to reduce fish supply from the Chinese ban on Filipino fishermen, in our own EEZ recognized by the international community. Big ayungin fish is liked by many among us who are familiar with it, but it is now gone in the local market since China prohibited fishing by our fishermen in Ayungin shoal. 

What you believe or not is irrelevant because nations--let alone China--don't listen to you. The Philippines has to anticipate and react to what China and other nations actually think and intend to do, not by what you believe.  

Both China and the Philippines agreed to leave Panatag shoal during PNoy's time. The Philippines dutifully left but China did not! Is this the kind of country we should trust to honor any agreements we may enter into with it? 

If we claimed the Spratlys and took possession  of it, we were the first to do so. Had we not done that, China would have eventually done it and claimed as EEZ the surrounding sea, overlapping our own EEZ, resulting in unavoidable differences and much bigger problem for the Philippines. Is that what you want? 

 Mar Tecson

 
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2017 1:55 PM
Subject: [MOONGLOWPLANET] Re: [Worldwide-Filipino-Alliance] Re: How About Acts of Filipino Honesty and Integrity?

 
FILIPINO ELITES HARDLY CARE 

ABOUT FILIPINO FISHERMEN 

FISHING IN THE SEA OR ENDING AS 

SHARK FEED. NEITHER DO THEY 

CARE IF WHITE AMERICANS TOOK 

OVER SCARBOROUGH SHOAL AND 

ESTABLISHED A MILITARY FACILITY 

THERE. AS LONG AS YELLOW 

CHINESE ARE OUT OF THERE, 

AMERICAN MACABEBE SCOUTS 

WILL BE HAPPY. THIS IS FILIPINO 

ELITES' UNSPOKEN VISION OF 

HAPPINESS AND TRANQUILITY IN 

PARADISE. 


I AM IN FAVOR OF BILATERAL AND 

MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT OF 

RESOURCES IN INTERNATIONAL 

WATERS INCLUDING EEZ'S AND 

THE SPRATLYS. AM OPPOSED TO 

PROPRIETARY OWNERSHIP OF 

NATURAL RESOURCES IN LAND, 

SEA, AND AIR. AM OPPOSED TO 

PHILIPPINE ANNEXATION OF THE 

SPRATLYS AS PART OF PHILIPPINE 

TERRITORY AND BEGGING THE 

U.S. MILITARY TO KEEP ASIAN 

NEIGHBORS AWAY FROM OUR 

ROCKS. MATAPANG ANG APOG, 

MAHINA NAMAN ANG TUHOD. 


AM IN FAVOR OF DEMILITARIZATION 

OF THE ASIA PACIFIC BY ALL 

FOREIGN MILITARY FORCES AS A 

NUCLEAR WEAPONS-FREE ZONE. 

AM IN FAVOR OF ASIAN COUNTRIES 

PEACEFULLY SETTLE ALL 

DISPUTES WITHOUT IMPERIAL 

WHITE MONKEY INTERFERENCE. 

NO MORE PCA MONKEY BUSINESS.


ALLAN T.




So, you are in favor of China staying permanently in the Philippine EEZ area and preventing Filipino fishermen from fishing there?  

(When China prevented Filipino fishermen from fishing in the Ayungin shoal, the supply of ayungin fish (lukaok in Tagalog) stopped in a local market I know.)

MLT
--
Sent from my iPad

 
How about a show of Filipino honesty and integrity?
Filipino elite positions on the SCS are characterized by parochialism and proprietarism. “That rock is mine. God gave that rock to me.”
Common Filipino people avail of nature’s gifts by employing their labor and meager capital to draw fish and other goods from the sea. Filipino social elites in 1956 and 1978 declared the Spratlys as their property and part of Philippine territory. Filipino masses look at the sea as a means of livelihood, while Filipino elites look at the sea as something to own and collect rent from those living off the sea.
There is the ever persistent Filipino elite pretense that the massive Orca in the room, the USA, is not involved in the SCS dispute. Yet the pretense is accompanied by the contradictory feeling that the US is bound to defend Philippine rocks in the SCS, despite consistent denials by American officials.
The bigger picture is much less parochial but much more proprietary. The truth is the US is deeply involved in the SCS dispute because imperial America sincerely believes it owns the world – from sea to shining sea. To prove how serious US proprietary claims of the Asian world are, the US constructed and maintains 400 military bases in the Asia Pacific region. Every year, the US/South Korea crime partners conduct war games for 2 months involving close to half a million soldiers with provocative objectives like (North Korea) regime decapitation, blockade of Malacca Straits threatening Asian freedom of navigation and trade, and use of nuclear-armed B2 stealth bombers threatening human existence itself.
In defense of its own existence, China reclaims a few rocks in the SCS and builds airfields, radar facilities, missile sites, submarine bases, and other military installations to counter the US Godzilla. The US throws a tantrum at China’s audacity like delinquent Democrats who refuse to accept defeat in the 2016 presidential elections. The new US Secretary of State even threatens to stop further construction and prevent China’s use of completed facilities in its own front yard – the South China Sea. What better proof of imperial US ownership claims of the world than these?
Once invested in a lie, the US must remain consistent by repeating the lie about the PCA piece of toilet paper. The PCA is not the legal venue to settle territorial disputes over land, sea, and air. The UN and ICJ are the legal adjudicators of international law, not the PCA. Both the UN and ICJ categorically stated the PCA is not part of the UN/ICJ, and both had nothing to do with the PCA ruling over the Philippine case about the SCS. The PCA ruling is not international law because the PCA has no authority to issue binding legal judgments. Only the UN/ICJ has legal international authority to do so.
The PCA is a mere administrative and secretarial service provider to parties in an arbitration case. It provided only rental space and secretarial services to the Philippine panel, its American and British lawyers, and hired judges hearing Philippine arguments. The whole charade was initiated, organized, led, and managed by the US State Department and CIA. In particular, CSIS and AMTI whose governing board includes Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and ex-generals and admirals of the US empire. The PCA venue was chosen by the Americans who were not after a binding international law judgment but an impressive propaganda club to beat China’s head with. And all expenses paid for by America’s doormat in Asia – the Philippines led by Noynoy Aquino and Antonio Carpio.
So the Philippines is back in square one. China occupies Mischief Reef and Scarborough Shoal inside Philippine EEZ but well out there in international waters. A limbo case of being inside but outside. The Philippines must be honest with itself and the world that it occupies some rocks in the Spratlys that are beyond its EEZ and in international waters. China and other Asian countries also claim those rocks as theirs.
The Philippines can reduce SCS tension by ceasing to behave as US doormat and deny Philippine territory to US military forces. It should declare its commitment for a regional agreement to recognize the Spratlys as international waters. Also pursue a regional agreement to demilitarize the Asia Pacific as a nuclear weapons-free zone and dismantle all foreign military bases in the area. Immediately begin serious bilateral negotiations with China over EEZ matters, Spratlys occupation, AIIB/New Silk Road Development participation, SCO membership, regional defense cooperation, and other social/political acts of genuine independence. No more American Macabebe Scout policies.
Allan T.

  Sent: Friday, 24 March 2017, 20:29
Subject: [Worldwide-Filipino-Alliance] HOW DO WE WRIGGLE OUT FROM OUR NATIONAL SHAME? Re: Puzzling show of defeatism

 

The international rule that the areas occupied by Chinese military facilities in the West Philippine Sea is mere Philippine EEZ but not our national territory does not justify at all the permanent Chinese military facilities built there. If it is not our territory, neither is it China's territory. Therefore, China, or any other country for that matter, has no right to build such military facilities in the area because that act constitutes act of OWNERSHIP applicable to owned territories alone, not to international waters or sea lane, especially if it is part of EEZ of another country, like the Philippines in this case.  Further, China's ownership claim over the vast south China sea, including the disputed area, has not been accepted by the community of nations.  
 
As further proof of OWNERSHIP, the Chinese military do not allow Filipino fishermen to even go near the military facilities, thereby preventing us from exercising and enjoying our EEZ rights over the area. Definitely, these acts of China are valid object of protest in the UN. What is our UN membership for if we will not even seek its aid to save us from international embarrassment as a helpless nation against the bully China? In fact, what China did is not just bullying or empty threat--it is actual grabbing and permanent possession and occupation of part of our EEZ.  
 
The happening of this national shame probably did not occur to the Magnificent 12 who kicked out the US military bases in 1991. They were complacent and did not think that other military power will fill in the void left by the US military when the opportune time comes. They underestimated the ability of other nations to do the unexpected once the irresistibly tempting opportunity arises. They did not lift a finger during their time to anticipate this contingency which turned today into reality. They were legal experts but not visionary who prepares for potential future problems. Worse, they would not lead the nation now in taking the initiative toward saving us from our present national disgrace rooted from their act. 

The difference between the US and China:  The US left when told to leave. China does not budge an inch even if  we complained against them.     

How do we wriggle out from our present national shame? Why not ask the surviving members of the Magnificent 12?   
 
Mar Tecson
 

 
At one point, not only the Chinese thought that they can impose their will on everyone by sheer military might over little defenseless enemies. The Germans did  so in the early 20th Century, when they looked invincible. The Japanese did so as well in the 1930s and had a plan, as again did the Germans at the same time, thinking the Axis was simply unbeatable.

Well we know what happened to those two international bullies, don't we? Geopolitical rivalries run through decades as Otto Von Bismarck knew instinctively, and this play is far from over. Anyone who thinks the UNCLOS decision is worth ZERO is either Chinese or a traitor, and we all know that. 

This dispute is in the second inning, using a sports metaphor, and already, the Philippines had scored a home run. That is the basis of a spirited defense that will unfold. Scarborough Shoal is the third inning, and already plans are being developed at the Pentagon and Rand Corporation, among many others. The World Series, was never EVER won in the second or third inning. This game has a long way to go.

We know that bullies without real military muscle are hot air until the stronger country rises up finally. Krushev found that out, as did Gorbachev. We all know how those plays ended.

Ricky

 

On Thursday, March 23, 2017, 8:24:24 PM EDT, Eduardo Gimenez
There is another and far more important element to the dispute.  That element is “capability”.  The disputed areas are in small unpopulated islets spread out over thousands of square miles of ocean surrounding us.  Most of those islets go in and out of existence depending on the sea level and the presence of storms.  Unless Filipinos have learned to walk on water, they do not have the capability of defending that territory.  I disagree that Filipinos are “cowering in fear”.  This description is completely inaccurate.  Much more accurate is the fact the nation has gone as far as it could go by taking the case before a toothless arm of the UN and won its legal case. 
 
But having won and does not mean the ability to impose on China the fact we won the case.  Because China did not participate in the case so it believes correctly that IT HAS NOT LOST.  We went to UNCLOS alone without any opponent.  Given the lack of an opponent, that we would win was a foregone conclusion.  But China has one of the world’s largest navy and it has created bases for them in those shoals and is continuing to create more bases.  They are creating GROUNDS ON THE SEAS as well as FACTS ON THOSE GROUNDS that belie the Philippine claim… and that the Philippines can do nothing about.
 
Every sensible analyst who looked at the Philippine vs China position when the dispute started in the early 2000s could have foreseen this present state of affairs and would have gone the route of negotiation instead of confrontation.  I was one of those.  Had we done that, there would be a thousand offshore drilling rigs pumping oil out and generating some negotiated income that would have substantially changed the Philippine economic condition today.  Instead we descended into one of the worst aspects of our Spanish colonial masters namely “Quixotismo” derived from that great Spanish classic Don Quijote de la Mancha.  Quixotismo is a false sense of pride.  “IF I CAN’T HAVE ALL OF IT, YOU CAN HAVE NONE OF IT”.  The silliness of this position is our complete lack of capability to impose our part… “YOU CAN HAVE NONE OF IT”. 
 
The patient Chinese knowing the quixotismo ingrained in the Filipino nature, played us to the hilt.  We bit on every lure they threw our way.  So we won our case.  But what do we have to show for it?  NOTHING! 
 
The Chinese will end up owning it all.  Our having won at UNCLOS is irrelevant after all because we cannot impose our win nor can we get anyone to help us against China.  Every day that passes makes that win a more vague and distant memory to the rest of the world. 
 
Danding
 


Subject: Re: [Worldwide-Filipino-Alliance] Puzzling show of defeatism
 
 
Ricky, the Vietnamese are a different breed altogether from us Filipinos. They have seen victories against the mightiest armies the world has thrown at them - the Mongols, with Chinese conscripts, under Kublai Khan; the French legionnaires at Dienbienphu in 1955; and the Americans in 1975. We Filipinos, on the other hand, have only experienced defeat - at the hands of the Spaniards, the Americans and the Japanese. The Vietnamese are standing their ground back against the Chinese bullies while we Filipinos are cowering in fear, surrendering without firing a single shot. It is no wonder that the Vietnamese have even overtaken us economically; next to overtake us will be the country that Duterte just visited and handed aid to the tune of $300,000, Myanmar. That country is growing at the annual rate of 10%; if it continues to do so, it will overtake the Philippines in 15 years or less. The first time we were bypassed by our neighbors was during the Marcos regime, the second time will be under Duterte.
 


Subject: Re: [Worldwide-Filipino-Alliance] Puzzling show of defeatism
 
 
Joe, the latest - "The Chinese have a right to hang out at Benham Rise".......Duterte, so now we are encircled between the West Philippine Sea, and the Philippine Sea in a pincer maneuver by the Chinese. He says the Philippine soldiers will be slaughtered. Well tell that to Vietnamese who stood their ground even though they were so outarnumbered, out armed, outtechnologied, and out everythinged by the Chinese in the SCS, but they fought back to defend their country from Chinese bullying and thieving.
 
Ricky!
 
On Wednesday, March 22, 2017, 12:55:51 AM EDT, Jose Tabbada 
 
There must be a million reasons for Duterte's defeatism. This is the same candidate who boasted during the campaign that he would jetski to one of the contested islets and plant the Philippine flag and die a hero if need be. Maybe Duterte meant the Chinese flag. Everything that he has done since assuming the presidency has been to hand over Philippine territory to China and behave like a vassal to his Chinese overlords.
 


 
 
[Attachment(s) from Rodel Rodis included below]
 
 
EDITORIAL
Puzzling show of defeatism
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 12:12 AM March 21, 2017
Glance at a map and see if you aren’t startled at how close Panatag Shoal is to the Philippines—and why there is a so-called dispute about its ownership in the first place. The triangle-shaped outcropping of rocks and reefs, also known as Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal to generations of Filipino fishermen, is merely 220 kilometers (124 nautical miles) from Palauig, Zambales—the nearest landmass to it. That distance is about the same as from Manila to Daet, Camarines Norte. By contrast, the nearest Chinese port, in Hainan Island, is a whopping 550 nautical miles away.
The 3-century-old map Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas—drawn by the Jesuit priest Pedro Murillo Velarde, published in 1734 and obtained by Filipino businessman Mel Velarde from a Sotheby’s auction in London—definitively shows Panatag Shoal as part of Philippine territory. The map formed part of the supporting documents the Philippines submitted to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that heard the country’s protest against China’s claim on the territory. The tribunal decided in favor of the Philippines last year, saying that China’s supposed historic claim on almost the entire South China Sea by virtue of a “nine-dash line,” which would include ownership of Panatag, the Spratly Islands and other coral reefs and atolls in the region, is without legal basis.
Unfortunately, despite the ruling China has continued to exercise effective control over Panatag since at least 2012. Previous to that, the Philippines exercised occupation and jurisdiction over the area, even putting up a lighthouse there in 1965. But China wrested it from Philippine hands basically by trickery, when it broke an agreement to jointly withdraw from the area until the ownership row is settled.
The Philippines complied but China stayed, erected a barrier to the shoal, began policing the area, and, in 2015, even used water cannons on Filipino fishermen attempting to fish in what had been their traditional fishing grounds. The fishermen were able to return only in October last year, after President Duterte went on a state visit to
China and, in effect, got that country’s permission for his countrymen to fish in the area. Suddenly, the Chinese Coast Guard wasn’t intercepting Filipino boats anymore; it had clearly gotten the memo.
Now comes the disturbing news that China is building radar facilities on Panatag. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio says such a station would further militarize the area: It would enable China to impose missile-supported air control over the South China Sea, and to eventually require any aircraft to seek permission from it to fly over the area. The fact is that China has already built military installations on other disputed atolls such as Mischief Reef, Subi Reef and Fiery Cross Reef. The grand plan, it appears, is to impose the discredited “nine-dash line” by sheer muscle.
Dishearteningly, President Duterte’s response to this latest provocation has been a puzzling display of defeatism: “Wala tayong magagawa dyan (There’s nothing we can do),” he said. “What do you want me to do? Declare war against China?”
Let’s make it clear: No one is advocating a war to solve this row. But, for a start, how about mobilizing the consensus of Asean, a number of whose members are also disputing China’s claims in the region? The Philippines holds the Asean chairmanship this year; can’t this administration put this urgent matter on the table? How about mobilizing the tools and opportunities of international diplomacy to pressure China to ease up on its expansionism?
How about, as Carpio says, desisting from issuing any suggestion that the Philippines is yielding its claim on parts of the South China Sea? How about exploring every other peaceful but determined option available to a sovereign nation whose territory is being gobbled up, and not behaving as though one couldn’t care less, or worse, as though one were a loser?
 

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