“Sana all.”
This is what Vice President Leni Robredo has to say about China’s assertion of maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea, noting the “unnecessary and unfortunate” tone it used during the fifth anniversary of the Philippines’ arbitral win on July 12.
The remarks made by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian were not surprising, Robredo said in a video message posted on her social media accounts, because “governments are expected to assert the nation’s interest even if sometimes, they have to bend logic in the process.”
"Pero iyong sa akin personal: Sana all. Sana ‘yung gobyerno natin willing din na magpakita ng konting tapang (But for me personally, I hope all. I hope our government is also willing to show a little courage) regarding the issue,” she adde
The vice president believes that when the government backs down, the more the country will suffer losses in its territorial claims.
“‘Pag interest na ng sariling bansa natin, dapat pumalag na tayo (If it is for the interest of our country, we should fight back),” she added.
On Monday, the Philippines commemorated the fifth anniversary of the arbitral win awarded by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague.
Zhao, however, said that the arbitration was “illegal, null and void.”
“It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper,” he added, echoing the remarks made by President Duterte that the win was nothing but a “piece of paper” that can be thrown in the trash can.
READ: China dismisses Arbitral Award to PH as 'nothing more than a piece of waste paper'
The foreign ministry spokesperson argued that China’s sovereignty and rights and interests over the vast waters of the resource-rich region are not affected by the ruling of any United Nations-backed court.
Also on Monday, Robredo said that the Philippines’ failure to invoke the arbitral win was a sign of “cowardice and neglect.”
“Today’s commemoration is a reminder, a challenge, and a promise: That if only we can remember, if only we can unite, if only we can rediscover our spirit and once again stand for what is right— we will find, beneath the rubble of cowardice and neglect, our courage, our dignity, and our national pride,” she added.
The arbitration win at The Hague was the product of the Aquino administration, but the victory was handed down on July 12, 2016, barely two weeks after Duterte assumed power.
The President has largely cast aside the arbitration win.
READ: Failure to invoke PH arbitral win a sign of ‘cowardice and neglect’ — Robredo
His defeatist and friendly stance with China earned him the ire of critics here and abroad, but he maintains his love for Beijing’s communist party and is vocal of his admiration of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the vice president noted.
This despite Beijing’s expansive activities in the hotly disputed resource-rich region that scared local fisherfolk.