Pangan: On unequal footing

WE HAVE to admit it, but it is a sad reality that we are at the bitter end of the bargain between our country and the biggest bully of them all-China.

China has given us loans and other concessions. As it appears now, we cannot be choosers as beggars.

The recent ramming of a Philippine fishing vessel by a China militia vessel highlights the fact that we are at the mercy of the Chinese. And our president cannot do anything about this atrocity.

He is so calm and cautious not to disturb the so-called friendly alliance he has forged with this superpower, for fear that it will push back and we are no match to it militarily. The ramming incident will not be the last of the bullying acts of China. More aggressive tauntings will emanate from China, I bet.

The country and China stand on unequal footing. We are poor and disadvantaged economically, while our neighbor is growing by leaps and bounds and is even a creditor-nation. It follows the United States in the ranking as a world superpower.

***

Regarding the ramming incident involving a Philippine fishing vessel and a Chinese militia vessel, there was something queer that happened.

The once recalcitrant captain of the rammed vessel, a certain Insigne, suddenly changed his version, now favorable to the Chinese militia. A case of nabayaran na, perhaps?

And Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, he with bad accent and syntax, also suddenly changed his version, from one accusing the Chinese vessel of aggression to a more conciliatory mere "accident." Well, nabigyan din?

In all, the abandoned fishermen were given compensation to pacify them and dissuade them from filing any charges against the Chinese. The vessel owner was reportedly also compensated. Well....

Only perhaps Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin maintained his stance against acts of aggression by the Chinese and he considers the ramming incident as a violation of international law and the matter of the fishermen being left alone after being thrown into the sea as a barbaric and uncivilized act by the Chinese.

All the other officials of the Duterte administration, including the president himself have been stymied by the overbearing Chinese presence and because of this inferior behavior, more aggressive acts by the Chinese will follow all because they know we are weaklings and afraid of their bullying.

***

Raul Madlambayan Dayrit, erswhile publisher/editor of Tinig ng Luzon/Tinig ng Masa died last week after a massive heart attack leaving behind a large brood, three of whom are now grown-ups.

Rest in peace, pareng Raul!

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