"The secretary shows how real diplomacy in our relations with the rest of the world should be undertaken."
"The secretary shows how real diplomacy in our relations with the rest of the world should be undertaken."
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddyboy Locsin issued a number of colorful “advisories” recently. One, over the entry of a Chinese vessel, Jia Geng, into our exclusive economic zone (EEZ); the other, over the recent military coup in Myanmar. In both instances, Locsin showed how real diplomacy in our relations with the rest of the world should be undertaken: Deliberate, undisturbed by the passions of the moment and always with an eye on our national interests.
In the case of the Jia Geng, some sectors were quick to suggest for the country to get into some kind of “war footing” and confront not only the crew of the vessel but China itself for the “incursion.” Former Senator Antonio Trillanes was quoted as saying “the Philippine Coast Guard should have immediately apprehended the ship” and brought the crew to “justice” if only to show that the Duterte administration was not unduly deferential to the Chinese. Locsin simply shrugged off Trillanes’ tirade and proceeded to say that no intrusion happened. The ship had requested permission to sail into the zone, not intrude into it, due to bad weather in the area.
It was a request for humanitarian relief, not aggressive action. It was not a state-sponsored effort for China to display its might and impose its will in violation of UNCLOS and related international norms including those outlined in the China-ASEAN “Code of Conduct” in that part of the seas. In sum, Locsin just wanted to let China and the world know that we are not a barbaric state and we adhere to internationally acceptable conduct even as he filed a diplomatic note to get that advisory on the record. That issuance should have calmed people’s nerves and settled the issue altogether if not for the entry of Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque into the conversation.
Egged by reporters to comment on the Jia Geng incident in the context of China’s passage of a Coast Guard Law, Roque went as far as suggesting that there is a “probability” the Philippines would take China to court over the new law without even citing any provision of that law which would be violative of our own laws and international or even regional laws or arrangements. By even contemplating such a “probability” Roque should have known that it would engender a quick and, worse, stinging reply from China which had denounced to this day the earlier initiative of the then PNoy administration in bringing a case before the Hague Tribunal ostensibly using the UNCLOS statues over China’s “nine dash line” mapping leading to the take over of some disputed islands in the South China (West Philippine) Sea.
That statement prompted Locsin to issue yet another advisory, this time reminding Roque to let the foreign affairs department do its designated job. “Just lay off foreign affairs,” was Locsin’s initial advisory followed by an all caps tweet dismissive of Roque’s competence in the field.
Said the acerbic Locsin: “I am not listening to Harry Roque. Love the guy but he’s not competent in this field. We do not go back to The Hague. We might lose what we won. Harry, lay off,” even as Roque tried to nurse the insult by suggesting that China’s Coast Guard Law may even run against the code of conduct in that part of the seas it has agreed-in-principle with ASEAN.
Well, sorry Harry, there is no room for speculation (probable answers, etc) in diplomacy specially since as presidential spokesman, you may be interpreted by the outside world as speaking for your principal which, in this case, may well undermine the work of the department in charge of executing the country’s foreign policy. It is clear from the exchange in this instance that Roque who should have known better having lectured on international law has intruded into a sphere he is not supposed to have dwelt on as from all indications the Chief Executive has all but left to Secretary Locsin to take care of this matter.
That exchange did not end there. The next day, Locsin had another all caps advisory to Roque after the latter again speculated that the “.. Philippine military was on standby to repatriate Filipinos in Myanmar after that country’s military staged a coup..”
“Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque does not express foreign policy,” Locsin angrily advised, adding that “that was his personal opinion. And the last thing we will do is assemble our armed forces to evacuate our nationals.” Apparently, Locsin had the President’s ear as far as our response to the developments in Myanmar are concerned. After all, it would at the very least be premature and certainly problematic for us to come out with any issuance without first consulting with the rest of ASEAN to which Myanmar belongs.
Thus Locsin noted: “Also cleared up: wait and see attitude on Myanmar is my call not Duterte’s who’d otherwise blow his top for a personal friend, [Aung San] Suu Kyi. You got a problem with that, see me. Meanwhile I will not join the West which destroyed Suu Kyi and left her defenseless before the Army,” Locsin tweeted.
Referring to the US, EU and other Western nations’ rush to judgment on Myanmar, Locsin advised”..The last people I will listen to is a white face on this issue.. I am really angry that they destroyed a great thing..”He was apparently referring to the wrenching step-by-step movement towards more open and democratic governance in that country which has taken a toll on the civilian NLD leader and democracy icon Au Sang Suu Kyi with the West’s harangue about the fate of the Rohingyas while she co-managed the country before the coup.
“They (Western countries) tore her to pieces and so where is she now? And where is Burmese democracy?” Locsin testified at the Senate as he angrily advised “ten steps forward – just for the liberals in the United States to feel good tearing down a woman, they have gone 20 steps back for Burmese democracy.” As we can see, Locsin’s advisories carried the day and how.
