Tag: diplomacy

Duterte’s critics do not understand Asian culture and his approach to China

July 10, 2019July 13, 2019 Ilda 2 Comments

So-called political analyst Richard Heydarian drew a lot of criticism recently after publishing an article titled Duterte’s independent foreign policy that contained nothing but blank space. He was trying to prove that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is doing nothing to address the issues with China over disputed islands especially after the collision incident involving a…

Culture, Government

False Patriotism Amidst the Recto Bank Fishing Boat Incident

June 19, 2019 C. Seamus Hermoso 9 Comments

“Thank you Vietnam” posts with both Philippine flag and Vietnamese flag in the background. Anti-China battle cries and social media campaigns pointing out that your President isn’t doing anything to condemn China. These now flood my Facebook timeline and I can’t help but say my piece in these posts. The issue of a Chinese vessel…

Crime, Culture

Former President BS Aquino was an even bigger sucker to China than President Duterte ever was

June 18, 2019 benign0 33 Comments

Filipinos of all people should know that you need strong and capable enforcement to ensure compliance to the law. They, after all, form a society of people that don’t generally abide by the law unless subject to a big stick. Look at Manila’s streets and you will find multiple layers of redundant enforcement measures —…

Crime, Government, Media

The “plight” of Conchita Carpio-Morales illustrates just how LAME the Philippine Opposition is

May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 benign0 6 Comments

Perhaps Filipinos, specially the so-called “influencers” of today’s Opposition camp, need to step back and appreciate the bigger scheme of things surrounding the treatment former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales recently copped in Hong Kong. There are only two foundation principles at work here: (1) Morales acted as a private citizen when she, together with former Foreign…

Development, Government

Attention Filipinos: Only a strong military gives SUBSTANCE to REAL national pride

April 9, 2019 benign0 26 Comments

There is a good reason why countries all over the world spend billions developing and maintaining military capability. It is because military force has always been and continues to remain the only real way to defend national interests. Unfortunately for the Philippines, Filipinos beg to differ. It is quite evident that Filipinos have never seen…

Culture, Government

South China Sea case “won” in The Hague by the Philippines vs China gave no more than a false sense of security

May 6, 2018 benign0 8 Comments

The Philippine Opposition is devoting a lot of its time and energy focusing vitriol on a “missile crisis” following reports that China had reportedly deployed tactical missiles on Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef in the South China Sea… Citing US intelligence reports, CNBC said the missile installations marked the first Chinese missile…

Government, Politics

Do Filipinos want to continue to be known as the world’s servants?

April 29, 2018 benign0 22 Comments

The latest brouhaha surrounding the diplomatic row with Kuwait that erupted following the going “viral” of a video of a “rescue operation” instigated by Filipino diplomatic personnel there has attracted much debate. The “discussion” surrounding this circus focuses on the minutiae of the debacle the Philippine government finds itself in in the immediate aftermath. What…

Culture, Development, Economy, Society

The Philippine Government should APOLOGISE to Kuwait on behalf of ALL Filipinos

April 27, 2018 benign0 7 Comments

The “diplomatic crisis” between the Philippines and Kuwait is fast snowballing into a circus bigger than Ben Hur. At the heart of the matter is the inability to just simply apologise — essentially the same character flaw that turned the 2010 Hong Kong tourist massacre crisis into a similar diplomatic debacle. The only real pathway…

Culture, Economy