Pacete: A piece of sovereignty eaten by China

SOSVEREIGNTY gives a particular state undisputed political power.

THE Philippines is a sovereign state. It has its “independence” and stands on its Constitution, the fundamental law for the Filipino nation to follow. Sovereignty gives our leaders the undisputed right to make decisions and act accordingly.

In the past, our sovereignty was put to a test when President Emilio Aguinaldo entered into a ceasefire negotiations under the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. Upon payment by the Spanish government of an initial P400,000 (out of a total P800,000), Aguinaldo and his companions asked the people to lay down their arms and sailed for Hong Kong.

Whether or not they intended the money to resume the revolution at a more convenient time is not clear.

When the Spanish-American War erupted on April 25, 1898, Admiral Dewey wanted the troops of Aguinaldo to help drive away the Spaniards for a price.

Aguinaldo very well knew what would happen to his would be-sovereign Philippines if the Americans would be here. Our country will become another US colony.

Aguinaldo was tricked by the idea that with the help of the Americans, he could have the Philippines as an official sovereign station.

On June 12, 1898, with almost all of Luzon liberated, Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence from Spain. His friend Admiral Dewey did not attend that historic event. That could be another colorful question.

That could be the “Game of Deception.” Political analyst Hilarion Henares said, “Our ‘special relationship’ with America started when the first American rascal (Dewey) met the first Filipino fool (Aguinaldo).” I did not even call it a meeting. It was a personal business negotiation.

In the last fight in Manila (Intramuros) between the Filipinos and the Spaniards, McKinley sent 15,085 enlisted men and 641 officers. The Filipino soldiers of Aguinaldo were mere pawns in a deadly game between two world powers.

By August, Aguinaldo’s troops were strategically positioned to take the Walled City. The Commander of the American troops asked the Filipinos to move back and make way for the Americans, first by a ruse, then under the threat of opening fire.

Unknown to the Filipinos, the two powers agreed on a mock battle to save Spain’s honor, with the added condition that no one Filipino insurgent would be allowed inside Intramuros.

I am telling the young people all these because we have learned a lesson from the past.

We are facing a brewing constitutional conflict in the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea... depending on who is talking. Our sovereignty here as a nation is at risk.

Among the past presidents, only President Fidel V. Ramos issued a formal protest over China’s occupation of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands.

During the administration of PNoy, our leaders relied so much on the help of Big Brother America to resolve the crisis in the South China Sea.

The Obama administration, in contrast, has refused to clarify whether Washington will come to the Philippines' aid if armed clashes erupt between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea.

America is always like that. Aquino could have learned from history, and he does not want to repeat another Dewey strategy inflicted upon the Filipinos.

That was felt by PNoy during the Scarborough Shoal crisis. He got no choice but to find a diplomatic compromise with China in order to prevent an escalation into armed confrontation.

That was during the time of PNoy. Now our president in DU30, new president... new strategy. Our incumbent president has a gift of tongue. He is not allowing America to impose its “budol-budol” diplomacy in the Philippines.

Digong’s heart belongs to China. Watch out for the “kung fu diplomacy.”

(To be continued)

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