By: Ben Emata
I am very apprehensive that the reclamation project being undertaken by China in the disputed territory could trigger a big conflict that would involve military strengths and participation of powerful nations. As we see Pres. Obama when he visited our country for the APEC meet, told Pres. Aquino of his concern of the China’s work in the territory that is clearly under dispute by and among Asian nations. Obama even urged China to stop its reclamation program around the territory which the latter responded by saying boldly no country around the world could tell them such thing. In this simple exchange of words, it is obvious that China is bent on working on the island that does not belonged to it.
With the words of Obama, he also gave two battleships to the Philippines to bolster its patrol in the ares. Likewise, the American president also gave assistance to other Asian countries like Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, etc. who also have similar claims to the islands. Tensions that existed between the two giants for sometimes now utterly grew bigger and could trigger wildly unless restraint by cooler heads. I am just hoping such scenario would not take place and that cordial relationship around the world would prevail.
Judging from the situations, I could see the stubborn behavior of China to settle the dispute by way of diplomacy. Earlier, it rejected the arbitration move initiated by our country in the UN tribunal making it more complicated. I could see the ground for its refusal to settle matter peacefully – – is the fact that China is so far away from the site of controversy, more than a thousand nautical miles to be more specific while it is so near to Palawan. To make the story short, China could lose in any friendly discussion insofar as the issue of ownership is concerned.
I am very much involved in the situation because it involved our country and people and that I always hope for friendship and peace. China once declared that the Philippines is the troublemaker in the region. I was laughing of the malicious insinuation since our country is so small and poor and could not possibly make even a sound oif sort. If there exist a matter of bullying, the same could be done by China considering its strength and influence in the area.
It is very fortunate that our country has never been a problem in the region. We had been a good neighbor and we exist peacefully with one another. We admit we have so many problems with our people insofar as existence and opportunities are concerned but we kept them unto ourselves with pride and honor. We never claimed to have stood higher than our friends but instead humbly accept our position with pride. Our system of government calls for consultation and acts of congress for support and never by ourselves.
We trust into the hands of our maker and our friends our position hoping China would understand us much better and treat us on the same level. We just want respect on our sovereignty, tradition and culture from everybody. We want peace in and around us and maintain good relationship with everybody. Friendship cannot be derived from misunderstanding and disrespect but by good relationship in a cool environment., We hope this will be the case. BEN EMATA Bennex News Service.
