Claiming that its continued military buildup in the West Philippine Sea is “normal,” China has shown the world that it cannot be trusted.
This, even after the international tribunal in The Hague had already ruled that its expansive claim in the South China Sea is illegal and in fact has no basis.
Recent satellite sightings showed images of Chinese construction of radar installations and fortifications on man-made islands. The Chinese piled up rocks and soil on the protruding reefs and shoals to convert them into islands. Why? Because their nearest coastal line in Hainan is some 800 nautical miles from disputed waters also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
Call it ingenious engineering but it’s more an evil design to advance Beijing’s ambitious plan to claim sole rights to explore the possible oil, gas and mineral underneath the South China Sea to the exclusion of other parties who have more right to these resources. Two weeks ago, a pompous China issued a statement saying it is “unhappy” the Philippines signed a joint exploration contract in the disputed waters with Taiwan. But who cares if the Chinese are unhappy people when they cannot get their way through bullying their smaller neighbors?
China’s posture is a threat to the vital sea lanes through which trillions of dollars in commercial cargo carried by international vessels pass. China has crossed the red line and it’s time to sound the alarm bells. The new expression is no longer “beware the Greeks bearing gifts”—an allusion to how Athens overran and captured Sparta by leaving behind a large wooden Trojan horse containing soldiers. The Spartans pulled in the Trojan horse as a war trophy into its fort. And while the Spartans slept, the Greeks came out of the giant wooden horse, opened the gates to the enemy and laid siege to the city.
To make a long story short, there’s always a lesson to be learned from history: Beware the Chinese bearing gifts. The Duterte administration should not be complacent simply because the Chinese has given weapons to fight the Maute/ISIS terrorists, funds to rebuild war-torn Marawi and more funds for infrastructure projects like building two new bridges across the Pasig River to ease vehicle traffic on Edsa.
There are more than strings attached to these “gifts.” These are ropes with which to hang ourselves.
Our Tsinoy taipans are doing their best to contribute to the progress of our country. Industrialist Lucio Tan, George Ty, Ramon Ang, John Gokongwei , Andrew Tan are investing in much needed projects from housing to airport. They are already doing their share so we do not have to depend on a domineering China.
Battle in the Senate
On another front, the battle lines are forming in the impending impeachment trial in the Senate of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. That the articles of impeachment are going to be forwarded by the Senate to the House is a foregone conclusion. What is going on now is how the senators will vote. There are presently 19 senators in the upper chamber. Senator Leila de Lima is detained on alleged drug trafficking while Alan Peter Cayetano has moved to the Department of Foreign Affairs as Secretary.
Counting heads, Senators Ping Lacson, Richard Gordon, Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Tito Sotto, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Manny Pacquiao, Joel Villanueva , Sherwin Gatchalian, Greg Honasan, Nancy Binay, Edgardo Angara and Ralph Recto would probably vote to convict and impeach Sereno given the evidence presented by the House prosecution panel.
Voting along partisan lines, the Liberal Party members in the Senate—Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros and Magdalo’s Antonio Trillanes III –would unlikely to go with the majority which needs at least 17 votes. A preponderance of evidence does not necessarily mean a sure conviction.
Known as knowledgeable lawyers, Senators Joker Arroyo and Miriam Defensor Santiago dissented to acquit the late Chief Justice Renato Corona. Senator Bongbong Marcos also cast his vote to acquit Corona.
There are questions whether detained Senator De Lima can vote in the impeachment trial. The answer, according to observer-lawyers, is no because De Lima has to be present in the Senate to hear the arguments in the case.
Why is the numbers game so crucial in the Sereno case? While Sereno has made enemies within the high court, the Duterte administration needs a majority there given the case elevated to the SC on the constitutionality of a one year extension of martial law in Mindanao.
The petition was filed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and a group of congressmen who challenged the vote to extend martial law up to December 31, 2018.
The oppositors claimed that the Constitution only provides the extension of a proclaimed martial law up to 60 days.