Palace on Sara Duterte’s foreign policy remarks: Expected from a pro-China

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (left) and Vice President Sara Duterte (Official Facebook page of Bongbong Marcos / INQUIRER / Lyn Rillon)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday shrugged off Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks questioning the foreign policy of the Marcos administration.

“The President said: ‘We expect that from the Dutertes because they are pro China’, and the President is pro-Philippines,” said Palace press officer Clare Castro in a regular press briefing.

The Vice President had been repeatedly called out for her silence on the West Philippine Sea.

For the first time, Duterte finally broke her silence on the matter over the weekend, but then she slammed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to allow the United States to deploy its missiles in the country, saying it antagonizes China.

READ: US on deployment of more missiles here: Yes, if PH gov’t will allow it

“That is not independent foreign policy,” she said of the move.

Marcos’ US pivot

Her remarks echoed that of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot to China, which Marcos Jr. later reversed.

Under Marcos Jr.’s administration, the US deployed two of its missiles in Northern Luzon.

American missile systems Typhon and NMESIS were first used during war games of Manila and Washington, and recent pronouncements from top military officials suggest that it will remain in the country for quite some time.

Aside from this, Marcos also green lighted joint patrols and military exercises with the United States in the West Philippine Sea and allowed Washington access to four more Philippine military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) which drew the ire of China.

Three of the newly-approved Edca sites are located in Cagayan and Isabela which is relatively near Taiwan, a self-ruled island regarded by China as a renegade province subject to reunification.

These new Edca sites irked Beijing, stressing that the agreement was made so that Washington could “encircle and contain China” which would drag the Philippines into “the Taiwan question,” a claim that was rejected by Manila.

The Philippines is part of the “first island chain”, which experts view as Washington’s first line of defense against potential Beijing’s expansion in the Pacific. 

The “first island chain” refers to the first major archipelagos off the East Asian continental mainland, including the Japanese archipelago, Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and part of the Philippines.

Seen by some experts as a response to the island chain strategy, Beijing has conducted aggressive moves in its bid to strengthen its sovereignty claim in almost the entire South China Sea — including most of the West Philippine Sea — but the arbitral award effectively dismissed this while ruling heavily in favor of Manila’s sovereign rights.

READ: China breaks ‘first island chain blockade’

‘Stay in the middle’

While recognizing the country’s 2016 arbitral award victory, Vice President Duterte said it should be implemented through diplomatic means.

“Our problem in the West Philippine Sea do not make up our entire relation with China so therefore, there is no reason for you to lean towards the US. You always have to stay in the middle ‘cause you are not part of the bigger conflict. You always stay in the middle,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, the chief of a Philippine-based think tank “strongly condemns” Duterte’s latest remarks, saying it echoes China’s narrative.

“Her remarks disregard the gravity of China’s violations of Philippine sovereignty and shamelessly carry Beijing’s propaganda narrative and ignore the escalating violations of Philippine sovereignty by China,” said Stratbase Institute chief Dindo Manhit in a statement on Tuesday.

Manhit also rejected Duterte’s insinuations that the country chose a side between two great powers, pointing out that the country also strengthened its ties with other nations including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and even with the European Union.

“To question these partnerships, while remaining silent on China’s coercive actions—its illegal incursions, the harassment of Filipino fishermen, the ramming of Philippine vessels, and the water cannon attacks on resupply missions—betrays the trust of every Filipino who supported her and expected her to stand firmly in defense of the country’s sovereignty and the welfare of our people,” Manhit said.

“We must speak with one voice in upholding the rule of international law,” he said. /gsg