I respect your service to the Philippines and your professed love for our country, but let us be clear: framing our defense of the West Philippine Sea solely as a “larger power struggle” between China and the United States is a misplaced and dangerous argument that distracts from the core issue. This is not about great power competition—it is fundamentally about China repeatedly violating our sovereignty and sovereign rights in our own exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as affirmed by the 2016 arbitral ruling under international law. Our actions are not driven by blind alignment with any foreign power; we are standing up for what is rightfully ours, as Filipinos have every right and duty to do.
You warn against being “pawns” or “cannon fodder” in someone else’s war, invoking Ukraine as a cautionary tale. But this analogy falls flat because the Philippines is not being herded into conflict— we are responding to direct aggression from China, including ramming our vessels, water cannon attacks, and blocking resupply missions to our troops at Ayungin Shoal. Official statements from the National Security Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs have repeatedly affirmed that we are not a pawn of the US; our mutual defense treaty is a tool for deterrence and support, not subjugation, and it is being invoked precisely because China refuses to respect our rights. Even the US has publicly stated that the Philippines is not their pawn in this dispute. Under President Marcos Jr., we have strengthened alliances not to provoke war, but to build resilience and expose China’s actions through transparency, which has garnered international support without turning us into proxies.
Let us not forget the track record of the independent foreign policy under the former administration, which truly meant pivoting toward China and distancing us from the US. Despite his pro-China stance—downplaying the arbitral award and calling Chinese aggressions mere “irritants,”—harassment from Chinese vessels did not stop. Since then and now, the China Coast Guard blocked and harassed PCG ships multiple times. Fishermen faced intimidation, and his silence or minimal response only emboldened Beijing further. If appeasement worked, why did incidents persist?
True strategic foresight means recognizing that isolation or unilateral concessions to a bully like China would not bring peace—it invites more violations. We are not choosing war; we are standing up for our rights, backed by international law, alliances, and the will of the Filipino people. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad was right to call out such views as defeatist and alarmist during his July 17, press conference at Camp Aguinaldo—they undermine our resolve at a time when unity is crucial. Questioning is patriotic, but spreading narratives that echo China’s propaganda, which often paints us as US pawns to deflect from their blatant violation of international law, does a disservice to our nation.
Pilipinas muna, indeed. But that means defending our seas, our fishermen, and our future—not retreating in the face of aggression. As you try to reminisce your oath to the flag and your patriotic duty, may you still remember how our national anthem is sung and what its final lyrics are. Mahal din namin ang Pilipinas, at handa kaming lumaban para sa tama, hindi para sa takot.
https://x.com/jaytaryela/status/1945995259789672486
