IMPROVING relations between the Philippines and China requires a foundation of diplomacy, respect and a full grasp of historical facts, according to Nikki Coseteng, who heads the Diliman Educational Corporation.
Coseteng, a former senator, said that a direct, bilateral approach involving only claimant countries is essential for resolving issues like the West Philippine Sea disputes.
“If the Philippines has an issue with China and other claimants, then we must only communicate directly with them, and vice versa,” Coseteng said, urging that “all other non-claimant countries should be out of the picture and not at all involved in the discussion.”
She advocated for both nations to send their “best minds, experienced individuals with a deep understanding of regional history and the broader global context” to work toward a mutually beneficial outcome.
Coseteng, whose Diliman Preparatory School and Diliman College have had students learning Mandarin and organizing educational tours to China for the past eight years, also cited the need to move “beyond the stereotypes” of China.
“Many still think of China as poor, unsafe, dictatorial and dirty, but when our students visit, they see something entirely the opposite,” she said.
Coseteng highlighted China’s unique “quick growth in recent years… without invading any other country, engaging in violent conflicts and wars, and imposing their language, religion, system of government on any other people.” The visits, she added, aim to “open minds and bring down the temperature amid ongoing tensions.”
On the issue of combating corruption in the Philippines, Coseteng called for strong urgency and political will, stressing that “the certainty of punishment that will make people follow the law and not the gravity of the punishment.”
Justice must be carried out to its fullest, she added, “regardless of power, status, or circumstances surrounding the corrupt practices.”
The former senator described corruption as a “complex system” that is not endemic to Filipino culture but has reached a “very high level of effectivity over the years.”
She criticized the slow pace of investigations into recent infrastructure controversies, noting that even with evidence, “no big fish has yet been charged and arrested.”
“The reason why the wheels of justice seem to turn very slowly is, I suspect, because people are still thinking about protecting certain powerful individuals,” Coseteng said.
She said that “even if the penalty is death, if no one is ever charged, it’s useless.” For change to occur, crimes committed by the poor and the wealthy must be equally addressed before the law.
Coseteng also said that national development and a higher standard of living depend on the importance of education, the acceptance of the highest standards of excellence and a respectable work ethic.
“It’s hard to govern an uneducated people. Leaders must prioritize educating the population,” she said, noting that illiteracy benefits corrupt politicians.
She said that change requires citizens to realize that what is best for the country will ultimately benefit the individual.
