Update
MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. rejected suggestions the country seek help from the international community after a Chinese ship rammed a fishing boat carrying Filipinos and fled the area which was inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Locsin, in an expletive-laden series of tweets that seem to ape the style of his boss President Rodrigo Duterte, said doing so would make the Philippines appear like “we cannot handle our own problems alone and without even trying first?”
“No way, José,” the foreign affairs chief said.
It is too dangerous for us to call in the international community. We will owe them—never a good idea—and fairy-like admit we cannot handle our own problems alone and without even trying first? No way José.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 13, 2019
“It is too dangerous for us to call in the international community. We will owe them—never a good idea,” said Locsin in his tweet.
“We’ve never relied on the international community but almost exclusively on our balls and brains,” he said in a separate tweet.
Hijo, you don't know what you're talking about. We've never relied on the international community but almost exclusively on our balls and brains.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 13, 2019
Social media was teeming with rage over the Chinese ship’s hostile action and suggestions on how the Philippines should react.
One netizen said instead of just filing a formal protest and engaging in just “talk, talk, talk,” the Philippine government should “present it to the international community” and “ask other friendly nation(s) for support.”
To which Locsin responded with: “F*ck the international community. It can be bought. This is our fight and in the end ours alone.”
Fuck the international community. It can be bought. This is our fight and in the end ours alone. https://t.co/leMWaDTWr8
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 12, 2019
The Philippine Department of Defense reported the hostile action taken by the still unidentified Chinese vessel against the Filipino fishing boat which left the fishing crew “at the mercy of the element” if not left to die in the sea.
READ: China fishing vessel sinks Filipino boat after ‘collision’ in West Philippine Sea
Locsin said the Philippine government had already filed a diplomatic protest against China over the hostile action.
China is claiming nearly all of the West Philippine Sea as part of its territory and Duterte had kept a nonconfrontational policy amid evidence of Chinese aggression in areas which are part of the Philippines’ EEZ. (Editor: Tony Bergonia)/ac
READ: Locsin fires off diplomatic protest after ‘collision’ of Chinese, PH vessels