Gazmin’s Twit

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on March 23 that “Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Saturday twitted activists for their silence on the country’s territorial dispute with China, while they loudly protest the Philippines’ new defense cooperation agreement with the United States.”

Did Gazmin use Twitter, which was banned in Turkey this past week, to send his message? Or was “twitted” used by the writer in the pre-Twitter context of “talking in a chattering fashion”? It was likely the latter because Gazmin’s “twit” exceeded the 140 characters maximum allowed on Twitter.

Here’s more of what Gazmin twitted: “Our problem is we keep on complaining [about] the Enhanced Defense Cooperation (with the US). Why don’t we complain when the Chinese [used] water [cannons] on us? Why? Where is our Filipino spirit? We demonstrate against those who are helping us but we don’t demonstrate against those who are bullying us…This fight [for territory], it’s not only the leaders who are involved. It’s all the Filipinos. It’s the problem of the Filipinos. This is not just a problem of President Aquino. It is a problem of Juan, a problem of Pedro.” Gazmin should have also added “a problem of Maria”.

Regardless of what kind of “twit” it was, Gazmin is right to be alarmed. China is singularly focused and lockstep united in its desire to occupy Ayungin Shoal – as a prelude to seizing control of oil-rich Recto Bank -but the Filipino people are sadly divided on the issue.

In a media briefing in Beijing on March 13, China claimed that soon after the Philippines grounded a WW II vintage ship (the Sierra Madre) in Ayungin Shoal (planned by outgoing Pres. Ramos), incoming Pres. Joseph Estrada made an “unequivocal commitment to China” in 1999 that the Philippines “would tow away the ship” grounded in Ayungin.

According to China spokesman Hong Lei, this “solemn commitment” was reiterated by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2003. Was this one of the 65 bilateral agreements Arroyo entered into with China that exceeded the 8 agreements that Marcos signed with China? Was the $300 M contract GMA signed with China’s ZTE to set up a $120 M broadband network in the Philippines part of the agreement?

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) did not categorically deny China’s claim that it agreed to pull out of Ayungin in 1999.

In response to China’s charge, the DFA on March 14 released the following statement: “The BRP Sierra Madre, a commissioned Philippine naval vessel, was placed in Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to serve as a permanent Philippine government installation in response to China’s illegal occupation of Mischief Reef in 1995. This was prior to the signing of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in 2002.”

“The Philippines reiterates that Ayungin Shoal is part of its continental shelf over which the Philippines has sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” it added.

To get a sense of everyday life on board the Sierra Madre and the conflict between China (the Shark) and the Philippines (the Minnow), read and watch “A Game of Shark and  Minnow” which appeared in the New York Times on October 27, 2013:

https://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2013/10/27/south-china-sea/

China’s March 13 announcement was new. The previous commitments by Estrada and Arroyo were never disclosed by China before. What is disappointing is that not one single Philippine elected official commented on this issue. Not one senator or representative demanded to know from Estrada or Arroyo if such commitments were made. Former Pres. Estrada has two sons in the Philippine Senate and either of them could have issued a statement denying that their father ever made such a commitment to China but neither of them has done so.

Are these politicians fearful of losing the financial support of their Chinese Filipino Taipan backers if they speak out against China?

In a democracy like the Philippines, presidents cannot unilaterally cede territory to another country at least without the approval of Congress. Even then, such an order would face a constitutional challenge because neither Congress nor the President can give away the “patrimony” of the country just like that.

Just to be perfect clear, agreeing to “tow away” the marine outpost that guards our Ayungin Shoal is tantamount to giving China free rein to seize the Ayungin Shoal.

Why have there been no Philippine newspaper editorials demanding to know if Estrada and Arroyo committed treason by acceding to China’s demands?

When China used water cannons –using feces-infested toilet water – on Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal last February, why were there no Filipino street protests against China’s bullying sadistic act against Filipino fishermen who were just trying to earn a living?

When Pres. Aquino called on the world to guard against appeasing China’s lust for Philippine territories to gobble up as Hitler did in 1938 with the Sudetenland, Philippine leftist organizations were quick to denounce Aquino for making the Hitler comparison. But these same organizations, in their demonstrations against the Aquino government, routinely use papier mache caricatures of Aquino sporting a Hitler moustache with a swastika on his arm.

Why are these groups more concerned about antagonizing China?

The only chance the Philippines has of defending its sovereign territory is if the United States is there to protect the Philippines or is at least perceived by China to be ready to defend the Philippines from a Chinese invasion of any of its territories.

If it was all right for China to use the American card in 1972 when it faced a border dispute with the Soviet Union, why is it inappropriate for the Philippines to use the same card now?

If Sec. Gazmin used Tweeter to send a message to China, he would write:

“We will defend Ayungin Shoal to the last soldier standing with the support of Juan, Pedro and Maria in the Philippines and abroad. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” Less than 140 characters.

(Send comments to [email protected] or mail them to the Law Offices of Rodel Rodis at 2429 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127 or call 415.334.7800).

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