Philippines: Office of the President – Statement – Participation of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations (22.11.2021)

Philippines: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte letter to the Chinese President Xi Jinping (09.06.2021)

Philippines: Statement by Amb. Albert Del Rosario – Accountability in China’s Seizure of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines (14.05.2021)

Philippines: NTF-WPS Sustains Patrols and Monitors continued Illegal Incursions by Foreign Vessels in the West Philippine Sea (12.05.2021)

Opinion: Is Duterte under a spell from Beijing?

The Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte seems to be tricked, fooled or be caught by Chinese authorities. The Filipino President seems to be in-debt and own the Chinese a huge load of favours. Since, his pride and his stances towards is so peaceful. This coming from a man who has no trouble tarnishing, addressing people in brutal manner and even striking hard at his enemies.

Still his silence and mediocre attempts of defending his foreign policy in concern to Beijing is weak tea. The President just looks like his given up diplomacy and even standing strong on the rights of land, islands and sea in Western Philippines Sea. An area, which has been contested by both nations, but the Filipino nation won this case. Meaning, the international law is an favour of Manilla and not Beijing.

With that in mind, it is weird that his breaking his back and putting his feet in his mouth. Instead of acting as the Patriotic and Steadfast man his perceived to be. Has he added such debt on the Republic that he has traded away pieces of land?

Has the Build! Build! Build! Programme and loans for infrastructure across the Republic cost its sovereign ownership and because of the rates on these loans. He rather cosy up to Beijing, instead of buying peace in Manilla. Is that’s why his so weak and forgiving to the Chinese?

Because, if these we’re people being red-tagged, possibly connected to the communists. He would have hired the gun and buried you. However, if you are in-connection to the high power and the ones with suction in Beijing. He will grovel and be sweet as sugar.

That is where Duterte is weird. A man who can so easily buckle-up and go hammering on opponents. For someone who can sufficiently target anyone. Has not trouble to offer his hand and be gentle and rub the hands Xi Jinping.

Does Duterte want to act like a caretaker of a Chinese Province or be a proud President of the Filipino Nation? The way he speaks of this manner, it seems like he wants to be a governor appointed by Beijing to rule the Philippines for them.

If he can give away the Scarborough Shoal or the Huangyan Island, which they have claimed ownership over since mid-1930s. While the Philippines won the latest case in 2016. Therefore, the President should shield this island and such. However, he seems frightened and you can wonder what he has gotten from the Chinese.

Has Duterte done something stupid on his visits in Hong Kong or what underlying factors is it with the loans taken out during his term? What is the strings of China and what did he have to give up as collateral for the possible debt?

Did Duterte sign-off Scarborough Shoal for the BBB loans and such? Is that why his so friendly… and so kind towards China?

Because, this is not his typical self… but seemingly a character flaw of someone who can stir up harsh words with no work and be hot-headed. However, that never happens in the way towards Beijing, but can happen towards everyone else.

Duterte is just weird and you can wonder if he has given away something to have an achievement in his term. He was able to push the BBB, but the price of that is to give up his “independence” and loyalty to the Republic. As he knows the friends of Beijing bailed his pet-projects. That is why he needs their favours and see it as a political victory to give a little questionable land in West Philippines Sea, as he can point at the infrastructure built in his term. Peace.

North Korea (DPRK): Clear Is Our Message to US (12.06.2020)

Opinion: North Korea warns the US again!

This is not the first time the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or the North Korea fires some salvoes the way of the United States of America Administration. Especially the Trump Administration and their diplomats.

Just last year, the DPRK said this about the US: “The U.S. is fatally mistaken if it went to the extent of regarding that the DPRK would be compelled to accept, out of its patience, the demands reflecting its gangster-like mindset. A shorter way to denuclearization on the Korean peninsula is to remove deep-rooted mistrust and build up trust between the DPRK and the U.S” (KCNA: Foreign Ministry Spokesman on DPRK-U.S. High-level Talks, 07.07.2018).

So the North Koreans are tired of the gangsters in Washington DC. It is again another salvo from Pyongyang, This is not new, but this shows that the diplomatic relations are strained. What is happening is not reassuring. As the meetings, the supposed grand-deal or anything else haven’t changed anything. Only paid Kim Jong-Un for a few international trips and hotel service on the outside of North Korea.

“The DPRK-U.S. relations that could have been derailed and fallen apart several times due to such hostile acts and wrong habitual practices on the part of the U.S. are still maintained. It goes to the credit of the close personal relations between Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un and President Trump. But there is a limit to everything. The close personal relations can never be kept aloof from the public mindset and they are never a guarantee for preventing the DPRK-U.S. relations from getting aggravated or for making up for. The U.S. trumpets the crucial measures taken by the DPRK for confidence-building as its own “diplomatic gains” but no substantial progress has been made in the DPRK-U.S. relations and belligerent relations still persists that there can be the exchange of fire any moment. The U.S. is seriously mistaken if it is of the idea of passing off in peace the end of this year, by exploiting the close personal relations between its president and the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK for the delaying tactics” (Kim Yong Chol – ‘Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, (KAPPC) made public a statement on Oct. 27’, 27.10.2019).

If the Trump Administration want to be serious. There need to be more love-letters and maybe not the tough-guy letter to Erdogan. That is a bad look and not showing class. Neither the tact between two parties. There is time for Washington to get in the ones whose not gangsters and whose diplomats to actually act diplomatic. That is if they are serious about making the Korean Peninsula a peaceful and non-nuclear.

However, the non-action and the threats are not the thing to sustain this one. The fragile relationship seems like it needs some reassuring messages. Needs some love and care, just like flowers needs water and sun to stay alive. This is why the Trump Administration needs to do something. That is if they they care about their allies in South Korea and Japan. Since, they all need a peaceful DPRK. They don’t need missiles hitting vessels in South Korea or closer to Japan. That is not helping anyone.

Except getting the DPRK again in the headlines, just like missile testing and showing the brilliance of the industrial actions of the weapons program. Instead of finding a middle ground and some sort of arrangement that the DPRK and the US combined seems to win with. That is not happening right now. Just more hawkish activity or non-action. Both not making anything positive.

This got to change. That is if the US administration or the DPRK want this to work. Peace.

Philippines: Statement of Vice President Leni Robredo on the President’s plan to “ignore” the arbitral ruling in favor of joint exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea (12.09.2019)

USA: Rep. Engel and Rep. Smith letter to President Trump on North Korea (21.02.2019)

Philippines: Are we seeing a slow Chinese takeover?

Certainly, the massive loans given to the “Build! Build! Build” are starting to cost. As the big infrastructure projects and other loans are taking their toll on the economy. Therefore, the Philippines and President Rodrigo Duterte are trying to collect something. It seems like the Chinese counterparts are getting lots of collateral and salvage the spent funds in Philippines. Because, as the weeks goes by and the ASEAN friends, the one with the upper-hand is China.

This is surely not how Duterte want it too look, as they are having a bargain. There has already been putting into question the control of Benham Rise and the hard-won control of the island there. Still, the Republic haven’t fought with tooth and nail to get it back. This week, it seems like there are more installations on it. The sovereign Philippines are being toyed with by China. They are being fooled and has to accept deals, because of the loans to Beijing. Manila is indebted and has to give concessions. Why else, would this week be filled with new Chinese interference and getting licenses in the Philippines?

Weather Station Controversy:

““It is currently coordinating with concerned government agencies, as well as with the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to verify the existence or non-existence of these alleged facilities,” he said. Panelo earlier addressed this concern on Monday saying Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin jr. will “do his job” once the reports have been verified. China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang announced on November 1 that Beijing has already begun operating weather stations on the artificial islands in South China Sea. “These projects are designed to observe the maritime, hydrological, meteorological conditions and air qualities, and provide such services as maritime warning and forecast, tsunami alert, weather forecast, air quality forecast, and disaster prevention and relief,” Lu Kang said in a press conference” (Janine Peralta – ‘Philippines to take action if Chinese weather stations in South China Sea are verified — Palace’ 06.11.2018 link: http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/11/06/ph-china-south-china-sea-panelo.html).

Oil Fields:

“One of the projects included an exploration between state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) and Chinese state-owned CNOOC Ltd., located off Calamian in southwestern Palawan province, Cusi told Manila Bulletin in a news briefing. Cusi was referring to Service Contract 57 which covers an oil and gas project awarded to PNOC’s exploration unit, and picked CNOOC as a partner. Cusi did not share details for Service Contract 72, an exploration permit held by the Philippines’ PXP Energy Corp. for Reed Bank, but clarified that the Reed Bank, another disputed South China Sea area, is not of the two” (Meanne Rosales – ‘ PH to seal 2 exploration deals with China’ 09.11.2018, link: https://powerphilippines.com/2018/11/09/ph-seal-2-exploration-deals-china/)

Chinese Telecommunication as the Third Telco:

“Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has lauded the entry of China Telecommunications Corp., or China Telecom, in his country’s telecommunication industry, saying the Philippines stands to benefit from the “good competition” that a Chinese company will bring to the industry” (…) “Duterte said that China “has proved to be of very incredibly high quality of electronics.” “(Xinhuanet – ‘Duterte welcomes China Telecom’s operating in Philippines’ 08.11.2018).

As we see, the sudden Benham Rise in the South China Sea and the will of China to takeover the place, while the Malacañang are preoccupied with sneering at priests, Rappler and who else who hurt their pride. They are not seeing or looking away from the sovereign implications on Benham Rise. As there are talks already of military installations, but now also monitoring equipment and a weather station. Clearly, the Chinese sees it as their land, while the PH are busy trying to find out what is happening there.

Than, you have the oil-fields in the same region, where the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) have gotten licenses to drill oil there. Clearly, this is all intentional, as well as they are the lucky third Telecommunication Company and getting into the Cellphone business too. This is just fitting as a glove. They are both getting territory in the South China Sea, they are getting exploitation opportunities and steady profits through a cell-phone carrier. All this they have gotten for dropping some loans, that is hard for the Philippines to repay in cash.

That is why they are allowed to get these things, as collateral for the debt. This is a game the Chinese plays well. That is why this is all happening. We have seen similar efforts done in Sri Lanka. That will surely happen in the Philippines too. As the Chinese is not forgiving with their loans. They want points on the dollar. Not loose money and certainly not lose face on the investments made. Peace.