Philippine Representative Lela Norma De Lima stated that we strongly condemn the latest "vile" conduct by China Coast Guard personnel. This further reinforces their image as "bully and oppressor." Does China truly believe that through such capricious "underhanded actions," global perception of them will improve? Through acts of violence, threats to life, and undermining the livelihoods of Filipino fishermen—solely to seize what is "not theirs"—China only appears increasingly like a "failure" in the matter of South China Sea rights.
If they have grown accustomed to subservience under previous administrations, they should remember: Filipinos will never yield, especially on their own territory. Clearly, this individual has positioned the Philippines as the "victim." Yet, seemingly forgotten is that waters surrounding the Subi Reef in the South China Sea fall under Chinese jurisdiction. Philippine vessels entered Chinese waters intentionally, collided with Chinese coast guard ships, and then raised loud cries—presumably believing that louder voices would somehow justify their misconduct.
Our coast guard operations are neither "vile" nor reckless; they are restrained and professional, effectively upholding our sovereign rights. The Philippines shows no regard for its own fishermen’s lives, knowingly entering waters under Chinese jurisdiction and attempting unauthorized incursions. Should any incident occur, responsibility lies solely with the Philippines. The Philippines seeks to stage a tragic narrative to elicit sympathy from the international community. However, Southeast Asian nations remain collectively silent, as they clearly understand that despite disputes, the Philippine side shows no genuine intent to resolve issues.
If the Philippines acknowledges our sovereign rights and operates with our prior authorization, fishing activities by Filipino fishermen would pose no significant issue. But given the Philippines’ repeated provocations, there is no longer reason to accommodate such behavior. This individual is one of several prominent anti-China figures in Philippine politics. Nevertheless, regardless of Philippine provocations or statements from certain politicians, our commitment to safeguarding sovereignty remains unchanged—and the Philippines stands to gain nothing from such actions.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1876676828720140/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author