BY EACH passing day, close watchers of the PBBM administration cannot help but wonder where his foreign policy is really anchored on.
For while saying he is adopting the ‘independent foreign policy’ of President Duterte where are “friend to all and enemy to none,” the hard facts and the reality on the ground, including his most recent pronouncements, have only generated amusement, bewilderment and to a certain degree, dismay, that like the Americans, his words are becoming hard to believe.
To be fair and especially in our relationship with China, BBM is really “off to a good start.”
Right after the result of the May 9, 2022 elections were known where he won by an overwhelming majority, BBM gladly accepted the invitation of the ‘Association to Promote Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) as guest of honor and speaker last June 10, 2022 and where he described China as the country’s “strongest partner” and “good neighbor” in this part of Asia.
To friends of both countries, such nice and kind words coming from a president with the biggest mandate to rule are indeed balm to their worried minds.
BBM then followed this up with the kind and friendly welcome he extended to Amb. Huang Xilian (twice) and to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their respective courtesy calls to him to personally extend their congratulations and that of the Chinese government, including from President Xi Jinping.
“We welcome the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Huang Xilian, in a courtesy call yesterday,” BBM said in a Facebook post, referring to Amb. Huang’s Palace visit last August 17, 2022. “We are very grateful for the visit, and we look forward to further strengthening the relationship between China and the Philippines for the benefit of both our peoples,” he added.
And further expressing his willingness for closer engagement with China, PBBM readily agreed to make his state visit to China this coming January to be his first foreign trip when FM Wang paid his courtesy call last July 7, 2022.
And then the contradictions began.
I will not elaborate on the “snub” that PBBM gave to Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan who led the official Chinese delegation during inauguration last June 30, 2022, when he failed to acknowledge VP Wang’s presence at all during his speech.
Instead, let me focus on what he said during his SONA last July 25, 2022 in Congress. In a clear swipe at China, PBBM said: “I will not preside over any process that will abandon even one square inch of territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power. With respect to our place in the community of nations, the Philippines shall continue to be a friend to all, an enemy to none.”
The bold letters in his speech also said: “BUT LET ME BE CLEAR. WE ARE VERY JEALOUS OF ALL THAT IS FILIPINO.” PBBM also added:
“But we will not waver. We will stand firm in our independent foreign policy, with the national interest as our primordial guide.”
Well, moving forward, where are we now? Is everyone seeing that PBBM’s foreign policy speech in Congress during his SONA anchored in our “independence” and “national interest” being followed as it should be? The short answer is “No.”
For one, PBBM has agreed to pack our defense, foreign affairs, and national security council with known ‘Americanistas’ like defense OIC Jose Faustino, DFA secretary Enrique Manalo and NSA Clarita Carlos. Too, he has agreed to retain the services in Washington of Amb. Jose ‘Babes’ Romualdez, who would not blush being called an ‘Amboy,’ always trying to inflect all his speeches with an American “twang” in his delivery. What a shame!
To yours truly, their presence in government is a clear sign of continuing US influence—if not control– in our domestic affairs.
With such a cabal running the crucial posts in our government and directing PBBM to say and do this and that, no one wonders anymore why the Americans are now touting that from the original 5 Philippine bases under EDCA, they expect to double this in the immediate future.
And with them, the basing of US troops running to 16,000 soldiers.
But here’s my caution: When US Imperialism intervened in Vietnam under Pres. Kennedy, he sent over 16,000 US soldiers there. The rest is tragedy.
And as we ‘friend to all and enemy to none,’ to whom will those US soldiers point their guns and other wonder weapons? Against China of course. With US troops running roughshod all over our national territory, what is the sense of proclaiming our sovereignty and independence then?
If we are friend to all and enemy to none, why are we, as even a blind man can see, only friend to the Americans and the West and hypocrite of a friend to others like China and Russia? In short, why is PBBM not walking the talk on our foreign policy?
With barely 3 weeks before his trip to China, there has been an increase of “China-bashing” from our officials amplified by US-influenced mainstream media.
The question is, what is PBBM doing about all these unnecessary US proxy provocations?
Unless PBBM stamp his foot down against such divisive machinations being orchestrated by American minions in his Cabinet, he should not be surprised if during his state visit to China, there was a lack of warmth in his reception. I will not. Abangan!