China Did it Again…Passing the Blame to the Philippines and Playing the Downtrodden on the Issue of the West Phil. Sea

China Did it Again…Passing the Blame to the Philippines

and Playing the Downtrodden on the Issue of West Phil. Sea

By Apolinario Villalobos

Here is another disturbing dispatch from Reuter on the latest declaration of China as regards the disputed West Philippine Sea:

“BEIJING/MANILA (Reuters) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Philippines’ case against China at an arbitration tribunal over rival claims in the South China Sea had strained relations and that it was up to the Philippines to heal the rift.”( By Sui-Lee Wee and Manuel Mogato)

China is not stopping from presenting an image that oozes with weakness, humility and innocence to illicit sympathy from fence-sitting nations as regards the West Philippine Sea where she has built artificial islands that anytime from now shall be inhabited by thousands of her military personnel, as well as, equipped with military facilities. This is despite her insistence that the reclaimed islands shall be utilized for researches and emergency rescues, although, her covert objective, is first and foremost, expansion of her territory. She is perceived with disdain as a double-talker. Proof to this was when she declared that reclamation in the West Philippine Sea was stopped, but weeks later, the world was gaping at the wonder of the transformation of an atoll into a “high-tech island”, complete with military facilities and runway.

The issue on the West Philippine Sea shall put to test the guts of the United Nation’s International Tribunal charged with the Law of the Sea. Will it go on with the investigations and trials despite the vehement refusal of China to participate as she does not recognize the tribunal’s authority? What will the other co-members of China in the UN Security Council do? Will they join hands and gang-up on her? Will the United Nations order the dismantling of the facilities on the disputed natural and man-made islands, once the tribunal decides in favor of the Philippines?

Practically, the economy of the whole world is in the tight grip of China, as even powerful nations are indebted to her. The Chinese President was recently a guest of Honor in London and accorded very special treatment which their high officials unabashedly admitted to be equated with “economic assistance”. China has also, spearheaded the opening of a bank that competes with the World Bank in offering loans to distressed countries.

The peoples around the globe practically depend on China – from their toothpick, gadgets, food products, equipment, and machineries. Due to the cheap Chinese labor, companies from all over the world, transferred the manufacturing of their goods in China, although, marketing of the products are done in their home countries  In this view, it would seem that once the machines of factories in China will stop, the whole world shall come to a complete stop, too. When the Chinese money declined in value, other moneys in the world followed suit. So, what other manifestations do we need to show that the Chinese, have by their wily manipulation, able to control the world, and that the leaders of the nations that are supposed to be defenders of democracy, are just playing charades to avoid losing face?

Meanwhile, in the “game of the West Philippine Sea”, the pawn is the Philippines…if China will get what she wants, it would be goodbye to the rest of the claims by other SEA nations!

The Entry of Great Britain in the “China Scene” Shows that Everything is Alright with the Dragon Power

The Entry of Great Britain in the “China Scene”

Shows that Everything is Alright with the Dragon Power

By Apolinario Villalobos

President Xi of China was accorded a very warm reception recently when he visited London. The Prime Minister of the host country admitted that such warmth was equivalent to investments that could be equated to thousands of job.

The Security Council of the United Nations is permanently occupied by the world’s four powers – the United States, Russia, Great Britain, China and France. Of the four, only France has not yet shown an obvious affinity to China. However, with what happened in London, will the nation of great chefs, follow suit, by coming up with an alibi to invite China to their romantic country and entice the touted richest country today, to invest, too? But the biggest question is: what will happen to the United Nations, now that the “check and balance” is lost?

Clearly, the lesser nations shall be at the mercy of the four nations’ charades. It will not be long when the four will finally talk among themselves on how to fairly divide the sickly sphere among them. The United States and China have been patting each other’s back indiscreetly, as while the former has been releasing “threats” of incursion in the latter’s artificial boundaries in the West Philippine Sea… China likewise releases “threats” of appropriate actions as needed – all press release. But in the eyes of those in the know, such are just charades. China’s relation with Russia has no problem at all, as there is a silent understanding about the difference in their respective interest – that of Russia in Europe and that of China in Southeast Asia and even the whole of Asia and the Pacific area, thus, her claim of the West Philippine Sea.

Initially, when China released a statement about her reclamation of islets in the West Philippine Sea, only the United States was specially mentioned that can use the facilities to be installed. Later, general statements were made about the use of facilities for maritime rescue, but still no mention about the claimant countries’ involvement. Very obvious is the ultimate objective of China for a one sided compromise, in her favor, of course. China will definitely not allow the dismantling of her installed facilities if the United Nations will decide on the illegality of reclamations. And, in this case, China has found a new and almost equally powerful supporter – Great Britain, a fellow member of the UN Security Council.

Great Britain has been known for condoning piratical activities of her adventurous seafaring people, notorious among them was Drake. Although, the piratical activity was draped with political intents on the issue of maritime boundaries in conflict with Spain, still the selfish and illegally notorious motive was there – piracy.  In her effort to rid her main territory of criminals, she dumped convicts in the far away island of Australia, to make sure that criminals would not be able to swim their way back home. Finally, her colonial effort resulted to the peopling of the New World – America, that later became the “cradle” of world democracy. By the way, Great Britain supports Malaysia against the Philippines on the issue of Sabah.

Today, the wisdom of China seems to have tamed the world powers. The dragon is, indeed, wise when it has awaken again after thousands of years of slumber.

China: from reclusive to cunningly dominant and aggressive

China: from reclusive to cunningly dominant and aggressive

By Apolinario Villalobos

When the Philippines rejected the move for the extension of the U.S. military base in the Philippines, China saw its chance to stealthily proceed with her claim of a vast area of the West Philippine Sea. The Big American Brother, grossly hated by militant Filipinos has been booted out of the Philippine soil, making the country, practically vulnerable in the face of threats from inside and out.

Still losing no hope, the Americans thought of using the yearly joint military exercises between the Philippines and their “visiting” US military forces, a move which, however, did not deter China from pursuing her massive reclamation projects in the disputed West Philippine Sea. In no time, the world has witnessed the “birth” of an island, complete with an airstrip and high-tech military structures, although, what China kept on insisting was that they were for marine research and rescue purposes. She even had the temerity of accusing, instead, the Philippines, as the one building structures on Kalayaan Island, where can be found a “village” of huts and unpaved short airstrip, and as for the “military structure”, it is actually, a hardly- floating, corroded and barnacle-covered ship.

Lately, the Americans discovered the presence of a Chinese naval ship in the waters of Alaska. All that the Americans did was throw a question into the air, as to what such ship was doing in their territory. They never ever thought that China might have been conducting surveys on how to tow into place a floating island that she is very much capable of building, and which no country can dispute, for as long as it is outside their territory. A floating island may just be huge barges with the area of several football fields overlaid with soil and planted to grass and shrubs. The Chinese have been successful in building an island in the disputed West Philippine Sea, and they proved that no nation has been courageous enough to stop them, not even the United Nations.  So, why not build more in other oceans? Such is how China conceives what a modern-day expansionism should be!

Building an island is no different from reclaiming fringing coastal areas that would eventually extend the territory of a country. Many countries are doing this. Coastal reclamation is a discreet extension that a nation can do to expand its territory. Expansion may accommodate an airport or provide more area for an existing wharf or conglomerate of business districts. Practically, many countries are doing this, which would eventually change maritime maps, and the face of the earth.

Manila reclaimed a big portion of the Manila Bay which is now being developed into a “Dream City”.  But before that, and during the time of Marcos, a big portion of the bay has been reclaimed to accommodate the whims of Imelda – the Hotel Sofitel (formerly, Philippine Plaza Hotel), Folk Arts Theater, Philippine International Convention Center, Film Center, Cultural Center of the Philippines and many other structures to support the country’s tourism industry. But China has gone further when she has embarked into a bold maritime colonization, as she squint her eyes to survey the vast bodies of oceans for her taking!

On economy, China has flooded the world with her cheap products churned out by factories that are alive with cheap labor. This phenomenon has practically devastated the local production of third world countries which could not stand against the almost give-away prices of China products. She has also been lenient in granting loans to allied countries which eventually, she now has a fatal economic stranglehold. She even spearheaded the founding of a bank akin to the UN-supported international banks that extend loans to member countries. Include here the standing loans that tied even powerful countries to this once reclusive country behind the Bamboo Curtain.  The wise moves of China virtually made her in control of the whole world!

Today, China is feigning a downhill trend of her economy, which of course, pulled down along, countries that have become dependent on her. This phenomenon includes the Philippines that now suffer from the weakening of her peso.

China is not a fool to reveal “how much” she is really worth. No nation ever knows the volume of her gold bullions and total reserves. What China may be showing the world, and which she can afford to devalue could be just an insignificant portion of her wealth, which may still be comparably even better than any powerful nation. China knows that the longer she maintains the downhill economic trend, the more harm that it can do to the world, and the better for her to tighten her stranglehold.

Meanwhile, China knows that not even the United Nations can force her to dismantle what had been constructed in the Spratleys. If the UN or the United States, for that matter, with her “Manifest Destiny”, had been contemplating on this decision for the sake of the rest of nations that use the disputed maritime highway, they should have demanded for the stoppage of reclamations long time ago, as they were not discreetly carried on, anyway. The goings on were not kept from the world’s scrutiny. The progress has been monitored via the internet, and which even elicited blogs of anticipation and wonderment from different parts of the world. To save face, the United States has been maintaining a stance, as if ready to strike, but for those in the know, it is more like of a shadow boxing, than one that can land a painful punch.

China cunningly employed a little sacrifice in the beginning, when she offered cheap labor to ensnare the world manufacturers into her fold, then she made the world economically dependent on her by being lax on her loans and flooding the world with cheap basic commodities, peddled influence to break the cohesiveness of Southeast Asian nations that now cannot stand as one against her on the crucial issue of the West Philippine Sea which she is considering as launching ground for her other ventures in other parts of the world. And, finally,

manipulated the world economic trend by devaluing her currency.

So what else can China do? Perhaps, show more vintage world maps of islands with Chinese names! China might even show a map of California with Chinese name!

China and the World

China and the World

By Apolinario Villalobos

While China has tricked the US in the latter’s ploys in Asia, it has gone way ahead of Russia in territorial expansion. While the US uses its “big brother” approach, China uses cheap labor as the main factor in becoming an economic giant which made practically the whole world dependent on its cheap and fake products. No wonder why no country, even the United Nations, ever made an attempt to slap China with some kind of an embargo or boycott, which has been the practice to punish other countries, despite its unbecoming actions, particularly,  its reclamations at the West Philippine Sea.

While the US has not done anything yet, as regards territorial expansion, Russia uses force and has been successful in the Ukraine region, and China on the other hand, uses its “resourcefulness” by building fake islands to legally extend its territories, as well as, money to win the confidence of economically-ailing nations.

The ASEAN is obviously helpless in counteracting the moves of China, with most members even blatantly showing their once covert image as allies. There is no hope for the Philippines on the other hand as regards the West Philippine Sea, as even if the United Nations shall decide on its favor, there is a question on how the decision shall be implemented. China is a member of the Security Council of the UN, together with the USA, France and Russia. While the US is obviously helpless even in checking the ongoing reclamations in the West Philippine Sea, France is helplessly silent on the woeful issues that are now befalling third-world member countries, and Russia is clearly on China’s side because it is also doing what the latter is doing, aside from their obvious close relationship to date due to their common objectives. That is the sad picture of the United Nations which China could have perceived a few years after the WWII!

China has already made its presence in the African continent strongly felt with its various investments disguised as “aids”. The nearby Mediterranean could be the next target, thanks to the economic downfall of Greece which China could be regarding as a timely opportunity for their entry into the Mediterranean region. If Greece will eventually get out of the European Union, it will be on its own, but how can it be possible without help from outside, unless drastic moves by the government shall be made such as declaring a Martial Law to enforce stringent measures on spending? The issue on Greece is money. If the Greeks would like to recover from their misfortune, there are so many things that they should sacrifice, so that they will be left with a difficult choice – give up luxurious life under a Martial Law? Or, still enjoy the same life under a “caretaker country” such as China through its “aids”. There is no way for the US to get into the picture because it is also indebted to China.

China could have foreseen the problem of the world which is centered on money that is why it has initiated the organization of AIIB which gained many members in so short a time after the launching. If the image of the United Nations as a reliable organization of nations continues to slide, the World Bank would definitely follow suit. There is no problem with the UN as it has been seen as a helpless organization anyway, so it can just melt away. Besides, the world is seemingly being apportioned today, either three-way or two- way: three-way among the USA, China and Russia, or just two-way between Russia and China. It will be a goodbye to the “manifest destiny” of America as fighter for democracy…and a welcome to the “economic destiny” of China!

Is the world nearing the epoch of “world confederacy”?… in which all nations shall be federated under a permanent leader while left as they are with their own cultural identity?…in which only one monetary token shall be used?…in which two or three universal languages shall be used?…in which the ideology shall be the “hybrid communism”?

Ang Mga Ninuno ng mga Tsino ay Mangangalakal, hindi Mananakop…kaya hindi sila dapat idahilan sa issue ng West Philippine Sea

Ang mga Ninuno ng mga Tsino ay Mangangalakal
Hindi Mananakop…kaya hindi sila dapat idahilan
sa issue ng West Philippine Sea
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Unang-una, hindi dahil ang West Philippines na tinatawag ding “South China Sea” ay may “China”, ay nangangahulugang pagmamay-ari na ito ng mga Tsino. Ang pangalang “South China Sea” ay ginamit bilang reference o batayan ng direksyon ng mga manlalayag noong unang panahon. Wala ni isa mang pahina ng history books ang nagsasabi na sinakop ng Tsina ang karagatang ito. Mangangalakal ang mga Tsino noon kaya kung saan-saan sila nakakarating at ginawang animo ay “highway” ang pinagtatalunang karagatan. Nadatnan ng mga Kastila ang mga Tsino noon bilang tahimik na mga negosyante, subalit may pagkatuso nga lang. Sinona o pinatira sila sa iisang lugar sa kabila ng Pasig at tinawag itong “Parian”. Tinawag din silang “Sangley”, na ang ibig sabihin ay “trader”. Ang Parian ay ang maunlad na ngayong Manila Chinatown, ang kauna-unahang Chinatown sa buong mundo.

Patunay sa kawalan nila ng intensyong manakop ang hindi pagtulong ng emperor ng Tsina noon sa mga Tsino sa Manila, nang mag-aklas ang mga ito laban sa pagmamalabis ng mga Kastila na umabot sa madugong labanan. Ayaw kasi ng emperor nila noon na umalis sila ng Tsina at tumira sa ibang lugar, kaya lumalabas na para silang itinakwil. Nagkaroon pa nga ng tinatatawag na “Bamboo Curtain” noon dahil sa inasal ng Tsina na hindi pakikipagrelasyon ng lubusan sa ibang bansa.

Kaya ang sinasabi ng mga lider ng Tsina ngayon na “nakakahiya” sa kanilang ninuno kung hindi nila ipaglalaban ang “karapatan” nila sa West Philippine Sea ay malabo. Ideya na lang yan ng mga pinuno ng Tsina ngayon dahil nangangailangan sila ng mapaglalagyan ng iba pa nilang mamamayan na umaapaw na sa mainland China, at nangangalap din sila ng pagmumulan ng langis na sinasabing matatagpuan sa West Philippine Sea. Bumabagsak na kasi ang Tsina at nadagdagan pa ng problema nila sa Hongkong dahil gustong kumalas mula sa mainland ang mga Honkongites.

Noong panahon ni Gloria Arroyo, nagkaroon ng joint exploration sa West Philippine Sea ang Tsina at Pilipinas, para sana sa joint exploitation ng matatagpuang langis. Subalit nang makumpirma na mayaman nga sa langis ang ilalim ng karagatan, biglang kumalas ang Tsina sa magandang pakikipagtulungan. Tumahimik sila, at nang bumuwelta ay umiba na ang tono ng kanilang sinasabi, at inungkat pa ang “nine dash” na kaek-ekan nila. Dahil sa “nine dash” na yan, pinalabas nilang “sakop” daw nila ang malaking bahagi ng West Philippine Sea, kaya nag-double time sila sa pag-reclaim ng mga bahura upang maging artificial islands ang mga ito. At, dahil pa rin diyan ay nagkaroon na ng “extension” ang kanilang nasasakop na teritoryo. Ngayon, lumalabas tuloy na talagang legal ang pangangamkam nila! Mga tuso nga…hindi na nagbago!

Mula noong naging aktibo ang Tsina sa pag-reclaim ng mga bahura sa West Philippine Sea, nasira rin ang maganda sanang samahan ng mga Pilipinong mangingisda sa mga kapwa nila mangingisdang Tsino, pati na sa mga nagpapatrulyang Chinese Navy. Nagpapalitan pa sila noon ng pagkain. Ang alam kasi ng lahat noon ay “neutral” ang nasabing karagatan dahil may iba pang mga bansang umaako sa mga bahagi nito, tulad ng Brunei, Malaysia at Vietnam, at wala pang maayos na napapagkasunduan hanggang ngayon.

Ayaw ng Tsina na mamagitan ang United Nations dahil alam nitong kung makialam ang ibang bansa, lalo na ang malalaki, ay matatalo sila. Ang gusto ng Tsina ay bilateral talk lamang sa pagitan nito at ng Pilipinas. Kung mangyayari ito, Pilipinas naman ang matatalo dahil siguradong dodominahen ng makapangyarihang Tsina ang usapan.

Ngayon, ang mayabang na Amerika ay walang magawa kundi mamangha at magbanta. Ang mga bansa namang nakiki-angkin din ng bahagi sa nasabing karagatan ay tahimik lamang dahil walang magawa. Ang isang maliit na hakbang kasi na gagawin ng maliliit na bansang nakiki-angkin ay maaaring gawing dahilan ng Tsina upang lumusob sa kanila. Sa katusuhan ng Tsina, maaari nilang sabihin na ito ay “act of aggression” o di kaya ay “trespassing”, at ang matindi ay baka sabihin nilang nilulusob sila! Hindi malayong mangyari ito, dahil sa kasisinungaling nila, pinapalabas pa nga nila na sila ang inaapi ng Pilipinas dahil nagsampa ito ng reklamo sa United Nations!

Kung sakaling magkaroon ng labanan sa karagatang ito, ang kawawa ay mga bansa ng Timog –kanlurang Asya na ilang daang milya lang ang layo sa mga bahura, kung saan ay mayroon nang base-militar ang Tsina. Malabong asahan ang Amerika na wala naman talagang naitulong sa Pilipinas mula pa noong pinalitan nila ang mga Kastila bilang mananakop. Nagtayo nga sila ng mga eskwelahan, mga tulay at kung anu-ano pa, pero ang kapalit naman ay ang walang pakundangang pakialam sa pamamalakad ng ating gobyerno at pangangahas (exploitation) sa ating likas-yaman (natural resources).

Ang malinaw ngayon, naisahan ng mga Tsino ang wise na mga Amerikano. Ang dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon ng base- militar sa Pilipinas noon ang mga Amerikano ay upang mapangalagaan nila ang kanilang mga interes sa rehiyong ito ng Asya, kaya nga hanggang ngayon ay may base-militar pa rin sila sa Okinawa, Japan. Malas lang nila dahil napatalsik sila noong panahon ni Erap Estrada. Ang ginawang paraan na lang upang maparamdam ang kanilang presensiya sa rehiyon ay ang pagkaroon ng taunang joint military exercises na nakapaloob sa isang tratado na kinukuwestiyon naman ng mga makabayang sector. Ngayon, ang pinakamasakit na black-eye nila ay ang kabiguang maunahan ang mga Tsino sa West Philippine Sea. Akala nila kasi ay hanggang pagnenegosyo at pamemeke lang ang alam ng mga Tsino. Dahil sa mga pangyayari, napatunayang hindi pala ganoon kagaling ang Amerika, na nagbigay ng kahulugan sa kasabihang, “matalino man daw ang matsing ay napaglalangan din!”

Ang Artipisyal na Bigas ng Tsina…at marami pang iba

Ang Artipisyal na Bigas ng Tsina
…at marami pang iba
ni Apolinario Villalobos

Balitang-balita ang artipisyal na bigas ng Tsina na gawa sa kamote at patatas pero ginamitan daw ng resin upang mamuo. Marami ang nabahala ganoong ang ganitong klaseng pagkain ay matagal nang kinakain ng tao at isa na ang instant noodles. Kaya nga lumabas sa mga balita noon na ang madalas na pagkain ng instant noodles ay nakakasira ng kidney o bato, pero hindi pinansin ng mga tao dahil murang klaseng pagkain. Ngayon dahil nagkaroon na naman ng bagong pekeng produkto, marami ang natakot….uli!

Ang isa pa ay ang kasalukuyang nabibili na rin sa Tsina na pekeng asin. Nataranta na naman ang mga tao, lalo na ang mga Pilipino na mahilig sa scoop, ganoong maraming kuwestiyonableng sangkap sa pagkain na halos ganito rin ang paggawa tulad ng mga pampalasa na ginagamitan ng mga pekeng flavoring. Unang nabalita noon pa man ang vetsin na pinabulaanan ng mga gumagawa nito na masama sa katawan dahil galing naman daw sa katas ng tubo, subalit paano ito ginawa at ano ang inihalo upang pumuti ang katas at mamuo na parang mga kristal?

Ugali ng Pilipino ang magkagusto sa malaki, maganda, maputi, mabango atb. Kaya, kahit na alam nang ang puting asukal halimbawa, ay masama sa kalusugan dahil ginamitan ng kemikal na pampaputi o “bleaching agent”, mas gusto pa rin ito kaysa brown sugar o moskubado na ang turing ay para lang sa mga mahihirap. Ang hindi alam ng marami, ang brown sugar ay ginagamit sa coffee shops ng malalaking sosyal na mga hotel dahil mas gusto ng mga parukyano nilang nakakaunawa sa kahalagahan nito kaysa puting asukal.

Kung sa tinapay naman, ayaw ng iba ang wheat bread dahil hindi maputi at magaspang pa, hindi tulad ng white bread na mabango at malambot, at siyempre maputi. Ang hindi nila alam, ang white bread ay walang mga hibla o fibers na kailangan ng katawan natin upang mapadali ang pagdumi. At dahil walang hibla, namumuo ng maliliit kung nguyain hanggang sa pagpasok nito sa bituka kaya hindi natutunaw at kung lumabas ay buo-buo pa rin… kung mamalasin ay sumasabit pa sa colon kaya hindi nakakalabas agad na isa sa mga sanhi ng kanser.

Pagdating naman sa katawan, ang mga Asyano ay gustong maging puti ang kulay ng balat at brown o blond ang kulay ng buhok. Gusto rin ng mga babae ang magkaroon ng malaking dibdib o matambok na puwet. Ang mga lalaki naman ay gustong magkaroon ng kamangha-manghang sukat ng ari. Dahil sa mga hangaring pang-pisikal, nagpapalagay sila ng silicon upang lumaki ang mga dibdib, puwet, at ari. Upang pumuti naman, ay lumalagok ng katakot-takot na gluta capsules o di kaya ay nagpapahid ng kung anu-anong kemikal sa katawan. At para sa buhok, ay dinadalasan ang pagpapakulay.

Dahil sa mga nabanggit na panghihimasok sa katawang ibinigay ng Diyos, may nababalitaan tayong mga dibdib na nagkaroon ng kanser o di kaya ay nagkasugat at nilalabasan ng nanậ, ang puwet naman ay natadtad ng malalaking butlig at sugat. Ang ari naman ng minalas na lalaki ay nagmukhang kamote na tadtad ng ulalo dahil sa malalaking butlig. Yong gustong magpaputi, ang balat ay animo naging mapa dahil sa hindi pantay na pagputi at may mga namaga pang bahagi. Yong pahid ng pahid ng astringent sa mukha na binili kung saan saan lang, sa simula ay nagkaroon ng kutis-baby, yon pala, nilulusaw na ng kemikal ang pang-ibabaw na balat hanggang sa huli ay nangitim na! At, yong madalas magpakulay ng buhok ay hindi na nawalan ng dandruff na naging sanhi ng mabilis na pagnipis ng buhok.

Nang mauso ang mga cellphone na gawa sa Amerika at Europe, biglang naglabasan ang mga peke nito na gawang Tsina. Ganoon din ang nangyari sa iba pang produkto tulad ng bag, sapatos at damit na pineke rin ng Tsina. Upang maging lehitimo na lang ang mga produkto, minarapat ng mga may-ari ng mga tatak o brand, na sa Tsina na mismo magpagawa, na ang bentaha ay mababang sweldo ng mga manggagawa.

Mahilig talagang manguna ang Tsina sa mga pekeng bagay. Meron na rin silang ginawang kapani-paniwalang robot na animo ay tao ang katawan, pati pagsasalita. Ngayon, ang ginagawa naman ng Tsina ay mga pekeng isla sa West Philippine Sea!

The Global Furor Over the Chinese Activities in West Philippine Sea is Too Late in Coming…a hollow and hypocritical sympathy and concern

The Global Furor Over the Chinese Activities
In West Philippine Sea is Too Late in Coming
…a hollow and hypocritical sympathy and concern
By Apolinario Villalobos

The latest furor supposedly of the international community over the reclamations being made by the Chinese in West Philippines Sea is a gross show of man’s hypocrisy…late in coming, yet. The issue has been played up in practically all available medium of information – print, broadcast, internet…for years! Such belated reaction is a hollow sympathy and concern from “fellowmen” of Asians affected by the exploitation of the Chinese. The United Nations sat on the complaint filed by the Philippines despite the glaring basis that are all spelled out in the UN provisions. The closest ally of the Filipinos, the big white brothers – Americans, did not raise even an eyebrow when the Chinese practically disregarded the UN’s territorial demarcation lines, and came up with their own map to show the world that the West Philippine Sea is theirs.

Was the United Nations told by China to hold in abeyance its decision on the complaint of the Philippines until their reclamation activities and structures are beyond the possibility of demolition, necessitating then, a compromise as the only solution?

World powers are wary just now because the conduct of their trade through the mentioned passage will be affected, but they did not say a word then, even when all indications of the reclamation activities point to the building of a military base. Not even a simple statement from UN was issued against China when it prohibited fishermen from claimant countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam from fishing in the disputed area, even as the situation got serious with the Chinese’s humiliation of the poor fishermen by spraying them with water and bumping their fragile vessels….a clear violation of human rights!

The United Nations seems to be powerless against the bullying of China. It is understandable, perhaps, because, the world’s economy is dependent on China in many ways. The world is practically being held hostage by China. Even the so-called “enemies” of China are consumers of Chinese products. So, what can the international community do? Impose sanction? How can it be possible as the big slice of the international community has standing financial accountability with China?

When China arrogantly expressed that it does not favor mediation as regards the resolution on the issue of the West Philippine Sea, not even a single member of the United Nations reacted. The helplessness of the affected countries was aggravated by the continued activities of the Chinese. The Philippines is the most and immediately affected due to its closeness to the reclaimed island, making the country already technically part of China!

Because the structures on the reclaimed island are almost finished, it is doubtful if the Chinese can still be driven off, even if the United Nations shall decide in favor of the Philippines. The only and most peaceable way to resolve the problem would be a compromise which is what China really wanted ever since, and which is expected to be in its favor. This triumph will give China a dangerous signal that it can do anything in Asia.

From Asia, nothing can prevent the Chinese from encroaching in other parts of the globe that they will claim to have been explored by their trading ancestors. As they are well-equipped, the reclamation that they have done in West Philippine Sea can easily be replicated in other shallow parts of the world’s oceans in their bid to further their expansionism.

Clearly, Sinozation of the world is aggressively progressing without let up! If doubtful about this claim, why not check the packages that you buy from groceries and the tags on the shirts that you pick up from racks of department stores, the fake jewelries and beauty products, utensils, tools etc., most especially, why not check the gadgets as to where they were made?…include in your check the packages of toothpicks and cotton buds, too!

As the prophecy says, the dragon that has awaken from its long slumber will make the world tremble with its grunt and fire….

It’s Only Now that the Hovering High-Tech Sattelites Discover the Runway Project of China in West Philippine Sea?…tell that to the Marines!

It’s Only Now that the Hovering High-Tech Satellites
Discover the Runway Project of China in West Philippine Sea?
…tell that to the Marines!
by Apolinario Villalobos

It is irritating to read “revealing” and “explosive” news about the “discovery” of the runway being built by the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea. And, of all things, they learned about it from the shots of the satellites in the sky. What hypocrisy! Those satellites are hovering up there 24/7 and captured images are being monitored, and to think that the Chinese have been flaunting their reclamation projects for years! Are the lenses of the satellites’ cameras selective?

Conflicting statements of the Americans are coming out on the defense issue of the Philippines. It shows the ambivalent treatment of the trust given by Filipinos to their white big brothers. Even the United Nations sat on the complaint filed by the Philippines. What will they do now that the reclamation projects that glaringly indicate a military base of the Chinese to protect their claim in the West Philippine Sea is almost finished? The Chinese are not fools to dismantle those structures to comply with whatever pronouncements the United Nations will have just in case it favors the Philippines which is just a dream! It should be noted that China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council…need I say more on this aspect? China has been adamantly vocal about their refusal to resolve the issue with the mediation of UN. Period.

Those “Balikatan Exercises” with the United States Armed Forces are just for show. If the United States has been effective in scaring off the Chinese, the latter should have stopped their reclamation projects long time ago yet. In another situation which God forbids should happen, just in case there will be altercation between the Chinese and Americans, in “defense” of the Philippines, it will not last for days. A few guided missiles from China is enough to obliterate structures and Filipinos from the face of the earth! And, the big brothers, the Americans can just say, “we did our best…now let us talk peace”…..that will be the happiest moment for the Chinese and the Americans, as the archipelago will then be sliced into portions like cake!

Show of power without regard to the mediating authority of the United Nations is being done in Europe now resulting to invasion of helpless countries. What will prevent the same thing to happen in Asia? With the extended sovereignty that China is building via their reclamation projects, what organization or what other powerful country will tell them that the Philippines is not within their territory? And, the Chinese can easily quote now the UN’s Law of the Sea which in the eyes of the exploited nations is becoming inutile…useless!

I fear the day when stories about a lost race somewhere in the Pacific will be told to the coming generations of earthlings….just like the stories about, “Paradise Lost” and the “Bermuda Triangle”. Only this time, the islands will still be there….

The Philippines Should Expect the Worst with China’s Refusal to Recognize the UN Authority

The Philippines Should Expect the Worst

With China’s Refusal to Recognize the UN Authority

By Apolinario Villalobos

The vehement refusal of China to recognize the authority of the United Nations to mediate in its differences with the Philippines as regards the West Philippine Sea, should give a strong signal to the Filipinos. Except for Vietnam that filed lately its own protest, the seemingly inaction of other concerned ASEAN countries, has just emboldened China to go on with its brave and defiant actions in developing and protecting their so-called territories in the contested area.

The Chinese government has a reason in losing its respect to the UN’s authority in the face of unrests that plague member countries which the world brotherhood of nations failed to police. Even the newly-formed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has enshrouded with doubt UN’s credibility, as the former, continually breaches the neutral line of the latter’s peace-keeping forces. Not even the strong protests that tinged with threats from the so-called super powers, Great Britain and United States, have put a stop to the terroristic acts of the motley group of Islamic nationalists.

China has repeatedly expressed its resolve not to honor whatever decision the UN court will make in favor of the Philippines. And, as it is wont to do, the giant country may even slap a “disciplinary action” on the Philippines for its persistent move to seek the mediation of a third party. Worst, China may impose demands when, eventually, the Philippines agrees to sit down for a bilateral “compromise” agreement. The Philippines is left with no choice, anyway, as it cannot even expect help from UN.

Another worst scenario is when an untoward incident between the Chinese naval force and the weakling Philippine Navy shall ignite an excuse for the former to make an invasive action. A single shot is enough. The Chinese can easily say that they are protecting their territory and in retaliation can launch an attack of the neighboring populated islands of the archipelago. If that happens, I doubt if the US will lift a finger, because, its President shall still seek a mandate from their Congress. Nothing in the questioned latest “agreement” with the US Armed Forces provides for their immediate action in case China attacks the Philippines.

Doubtful, too, is if the Philippine government has already plotted options that could prevent the occurrence of the worst scenarios, or when they shall happen eventually. The West Philippine Sea case has practically become a “test case” to prove if indeed, China is the new world super power that should be feared, or at the very least, respected. The world is gawking at this Pacific side of the world, waiting for what will happen next… and the Philippines is one of the pawns.

Finally, with the UN’s diminishing credibility, its “weak” members are left to the bullying of the “strong” ones. The mandate of the organization’s court of justice that is supposed to protect the territorial rights of member- countries has become a simple memo. The weakness of the UN could lead to a chaos – a formidable threat to world peace.