AND the most friendly neighbor award goes to... the Philippines!
When the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) began, the president called on the Filipinos to be calm and avoid being “xenophobic” against the Chinese. The president was hesitant to declare a total ban from those coming from China to avoid upsetting them even if the threat of getting infected was imminent. When the ban was finally declared, Taiwan was included in the prohibition even if there was no need of it to avoid bringing to light the issue on Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Before this epidemic, glaring is the influx of Chinese in the country. Many sectors have questioned and reacted in the rise of Chinese visitors, not only coming as tourists but as workers, but our government officials only shrugged it off. Now, many Filipinos are certain of the turning of political direction, pivoting away from a long-time ally (USA) and turning to a neighbor (China) whose intention lurks in the shadows. Only, many Filipinos do not like the first indications of Chinese alliance, the influx of its citizens into the country and its implication.
There are four reasons why Filipinos are unhappy of the Chinese incessant entry in the country. First, the Chinese are coming here for jobs and they are getting them. Philippines is a poor country. We are a developing country but still considered a third-world country and one reason why we are poor is that many Filipinos cannot get decent jobs. Because there are no sufficient jobs. The volume of overseas workers speak of the reality that we cannot provide decent jobs for every able-bodied worker in the country. We witness the success of some OFWs while we mourn the sufferings of many. All these because we could not provide work for everyone.
So when Duterte introduced the “build build build” project, the Filipinos consented to it because along with the splendor of industrialization comes the promises of jobs. Yet when these projects commenced, Filipinos found themselves competing with Chinese for job vacancies. They could only scratch their heads in disbelief. Is this part of the package deal when China agreed to loan the administration for its massive projects? When asked “how come,” the President’s dry reply was, many Filipinos are not skilled enough so they are letting Chinese come in to fill this job vacancies. Unbelievably unfortunate.
Second, Chinese crimes are stealing the headlines of our primetime news. We now often hear of prostitution dens run by the Chinese, kidnappings of Chinese masterminded by fellow Chinese and the operations of Chinese syndicates preying on the unfortunate. The main culprit of these crimes is pinpointed to the permission of Philippine offshore gaming operations (Pogo) business in the country manned by Chinese citizens. Note that employees are Chinese and the more POGO establishments that arise the more Chinese will be brought in.
Reports reveal that anomalies such as sex trafficking and corruption are strongly associated with Pogo. A Filipina testifies during an investigation that she was tricked into prostitution that caters to Chinese expatriates and Pogo workers. Also a Taiwanese sought help after she was allegedly trafficked into working for a Pogo firm. The government says they are not turning a blind eye on these issues. Really? They were too blind to see its implication in the beginning. And we wonder why ordinary Filipinos are fuming over the influx?
Third, Chinese expatriates brought with them a sense of arrogance that is quite strange in the value system of this country. Traditional Filipinos are watchful when they are not in their homes. We are often advised by our parents and grandparents or elders to behave when we are not in our place because it is disrespectful. This is being sensitive to the host. We do not want to disrespect our hosts or perhaps to disappoint them. We do not want to be rude. This culturally-valued virtue is being ignored by many of our Chinese neighbors in the country. In one article online, Chinese nationals tops the nationalities who were refused to get passage in the country due to arrogance and rudeness.
Fourth, we are being friendly while they are bullying us by claiming part of our sovereign territories. We cannot do anything, says Duterte. We cannot go to war with China. Yes, of course, who can go to war with China in South East Asia? It is a safe decision but we must expect China to behave like a good neighbor not bully its way to achieve its lofty ambitions. The international court dismissed the territorial claim of China in favoring the petition of the Philippines but instead of obeying this ruling, China continued to build island fortresses into these disputed regions. Filipinos cannot forget how Chinese coast guards drove away our ordinary fishermen. Filipinos could hardly fish in their own seas. Despite this bullying, our government is all bowed down to this neighbor. The President is ever ready to support China and too careful to offend her. This reality is heavy in the chest among many Filipinos.
Am I against China and its people? Absolutely not. I am against our foreign policies that allow this country to be an extension of a foreign rule. Let us have a review of these foreign policies to see if we are doing our fellow Filipinos a favor or not. Then let us define friendship.