How can the Philippines reclaim control of its islands occupied by China?
The government is actually at a loss on how to recover parts of the West Philippine Sea seized by China despite securing a favorable arbitral ruling, President Duterte said Wednesday.
According to the President, China still refused to recognize the ruling that nullified its claims over the South China Sea. Not a single member of the United Nations, he pointed out, would go to war to enforce the 2016 ruling asserting the country's territorial claim.
"What more could be a more binding order or an international pressure? Eh ‘di ‘yong tribunal. Wala nang makatalo sa atin doon (It's the tribunal. Nothing can beat that). Nobody in the United Nations will go to war for us," he said during a televised address Wednesday, April 28.
"For China tapos na ‘yon na may desisyon na, ayaw nilang sumunod (For China, that's over. They refuse to follow the decision). Tayo naman, we have the decision but we are at a loss of how to get it --- get back physically the West Philippine Sea. Iyan ang problema (That's the problem)," he said.
Duterte also conceded that China now has possession over the disputed territory after his past administration removed the country's ships shoal years ago. He was referring to the Panatag Shoal, which China seized from the country during a standoff in 2012.
"Remember na pagdating ko sa opisina sa pagka-Presidente, iyang China Sea, nandoon na talaga sa China kasi umatras tayo, hindi tayo kumasa. Sino ang presidente noon? (Remember when I assumed the presidency, China Sea already belonged to China because we pulled out. Who was the President then?" he said.
Tension in the region has reignited after hundreds of Chinese ships were spotted at the Julian Felipe Reef, located within the country's waters, last month. The Philippines filed several diplomatic protests over the unlawful presence of the Chinese ships but Beijing did not pull out the fishing boats which were supposedly only taking refuge from rough seas.
Duterte, in his remarks Monday, ruled out going to war to resolve the territorial conflict with China, insisting Beijing is a "good friend." He also remained grateful for China's help including its donation of coronavirus vaccines to Filipinos.
And if a full-blown war in the region erupts, he also expressed doubts the United States would help the country, citing its past inaction. The Philippines has an existing defense pact with its longtime western ally to come to each other's aid in the event of an external armed attack.
For now, Duterte opted to wait for China's next action on the West Philippine Sea but assured the nation that he would not bargain away the country's interests.
"There are things which are not really subject to a compromise, kagaya nang ginawa mag-atras-atras. Mahirap po ‘yan. Sana they will understand but I have the interest of my country also to protect. It might not really be a might --- an armed might, but it is really a claim of sovereignty which I cannot... Iyan nandiyan na ‘yon," he said.
Duterte said while the country appreciates China's free COVID-19 vaccines, "there are some things in life which cannot be bargainable and this is one of them." "Now, tingnan natin kung anong gawin ng China despite of our pleadings for peace and to settle it...Iyon lang man siguro mga kababayan ko. Medyo emosyonal ako kaunti pero alam mo na, it’s a national --- national pride," he said.