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Philippines Has Little Power Against China, Duterte Tells Lawmakers Philippines Has Little Power Against China, Duterte Tells Lawmakers
(about 3 hours later)
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines used his annual address to Congress on Monday to defend his government’s soft stance toward China, saying he had no choice because the Asian military giant posed too big a security threat. MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines used his annual address to Congress on Monday to defend his government’s conciliatory stance toward China and his controversial drug war, which has left more than 6,600 people dead.
Mr. Duterte, who took power in 2016, is halfway through a six-year term that has been largely defined by his deadly war on drugs and the country’s tense relationship with China.
Both issues have eclipsed other accomplishments, including a landmark law on sexual harassment that Mr. Duterte signed last week and another law finalizing a peace deal with insurgents and establishing an autonomous Muslim homeland in the country’s restive south.
“We are now entering a period of consequences,” Mr. Duterte said. “The consequences of what we did and did not do but should have done during my first half of my term. I assume full responsibility for that.”
Sitting in the audience as Mr. Duterte spoke was Vice President Leni Robredo, who was one of dozens of people, including several senators and other members of the political opposition, charged with sedition and other offenses last week. They are accused of engaging in a plot to weaken Mr. Duterte’s government — charges they describe as an attempt by the president to intimidate his critics into silence.
Mr. Duterte has come under particular criticism lately over his approach to China, setting off large-scale protests last month when he argued that there was little he could do to assert his country’s sovereignty in the face of Beijing’s military might.Mr. Duterte has come under particular criticism lately over his approach to China, setting off large-scale protests last month when he argued that there was little he could do to assert his country’s sovereignty in the face of Beijing’s military might.
On Monday, the president told lawmakers that dealing with Beijing compelled him “to perform a delicate balancing act.”
Mr. Duterte, who took power in 2016, is halfway through a six-year term, and in his speech, he touted various achievements, including his anti-corruption efforts and moves to cut red tape. Mr. Duterte also signed last week a landmark law on sexual harassment, and one finalizing a peace deal with insurgents and establishing an autonomous Muslim homeland in the country’s restive south. But discussion of the country’s tense relations with China and its drug war eclipsed other accomplishments.
“We are now entering a period of consequences,” Mr. Duterte said. “The consequences of what we did and did not do but should have done during my first half of my term. I assume full responsibility for that.”
The public had been angered when a Chinese vessel rammed into a Philippine fishing boat, leaving 22 fishermen floating in the sea until they were rescued by a boat from Vietnam. Mr. Duterte played down the incident.The public had been angered when a Chinese vessel rammed into a Philippine fishing boat, leaving 22 fishermen floating in the sea until they were rescued by a boat from Vietnam. Mr. Duterte played down the incident.
The president told lawmakers on Monday that dealing with Beijing compelled him “to perform a delicate balancing act.”
“A shooting war is a grief and misery multiplier,” he said. “War leaves widows and orphans in its wake. I am not ready or inclined to accept the occurrence of more destruction, more widows and more orphans should war — even at a limited scale — break out.”“A shooting war is a grief and misery multiplier,” he said. “War leaves widows and orphans in its wake. I am not ready or inclined to accept the occurrence of more destruction, more widows and more orphans should war — even at a limited scale — break out.”
He argued that better results could be achieved “in the privacy of a conference room than in a squabble in public.”He argued that better results could be achieved “in the privacy of a conference room than in a squabble in public.”
On that basis, Mr. Duterte said he was determined to act peacefully, “mindful of the fact that national pride and territorial integrity are at stake.”On that basis, Mr. Duterte said he was determined to act peacefully, “mindful of the fact that national pride and territorial integrity are at stake.”
Much of the tension in the relationship between China and the Philippines stems from their competing claims in the South China Sea. Mr. Duterte said that he raised the territorial disputes with President Xi Jinping of China early in his term but was warned by the Chinese leader that pressing the issue could “mean trouble.”Much of the tension in the relationship between China and the Philippines stems from their competing claims in the South China Sea. Mr. Duterte said that he raised the territorial disputes with President Xi Jinping of China early in his term but was warned by the Chinese leader that pressing the issue could “mean trouble.”
Mr. Duterte said that China had already installed guided missiles in the South China Sea that could reach the Philippine capital, Manila, within minutes.Mr. Duterte said that China had already installed guided missiles in the South China Sea that could reach the Philippine capital, Manila, within minutes.
“Do you want war?” he asked in a question apparently directed at nationalist groups. After receiving such a warning from Mr. Xi, he said, “What can I do?”“Do you want war?” he asked in a question apparently directed at nationalist groups. After receiving such a warning from Mr. Xi, he said, “What can I do?”
He also appeared to blame his predecessor, Benigno S. Aquino III, for losing the Scarborough Shoal, a reef that is claimed by both China and the Philippines. He said Mr. Aquino’s government had allowed Beijing to take possession of it in 2012 when he withdrew the Philippine Coast Guard from the area in the face of a Chinese blockade.He also appeared to blame his predecessor, Benigno S. Aquino III, for losing the Scarborough Shoal, a reef that is claimed by both China and the Philippines. He said Mr. Aquino’s government had allowed Beijing to take possession of it in 2012 when he withdrew the Philippine Coast Guard from the area in the face of a Chinese blockade.
Under Mr. Aquino, the Philippines brought its case to an international tribunal in The Hague, which in 2016 rejected China’s argument that it enjoys historic rights over most of the South China Sea. But Mr. Duterte has not pressured China to accept the ruling, instead making a point of appeasing Beijing by visiting often and courting billions of dollars in investment pledges.Under Mr. Aquino, the Philippines brought its case to an international tribunal in The Hague, which in 2016 rejected China’s argument that it enjoys historic rights over most of the South China Sea. But Mr. Duterte has not pressured China to accept the ruling, instead making a point of appeasing Beijing by visiting often and courting billions of dollars in investment pledges.
On Monday, he told Congress that even if he sent the Philippine military to drive the Chinese away from the disputed maritime area, “I guarantee you, not one of them will come home alive.”On Monday, he told Congress that even if he sent the Philippine military to drive the Chinese away from the disputed maritime area, “I guarantee you, not one of them will come home alive.”
Fernando Hicap, chairman of the fishermen’s group Pamalakaya, criticized Mr. Duterte’s speech as “warmongering,” saying that protecting the interests of the Philippines should be a matter of national policy.Fernando Hicap, chairman of the fishermen’s group Pamalakaya, criticized Mr. Duterte’s speech as “warmongering,” saying that protecting the interests of the Philippines should be a matter of national policy.
“Nobody wants to have a war with any country,” Mr. Hicap said. “What we demand is justice, and for the rights of Filipino fishers to be respected in our own marine territory.”“Nobody wants to have a war with any country,” Mr. Hicap said. “What we demand is justice, and for the rights of Filipino fishers to be respected in our own marine territory.”
He added, “Asserting what is rightfully ours is not tantamount to declaring war with the aggressor.”He added, “Asserting what is rightfully ours is not tantamount to declaring war with the aggressor.”
Mr. Hicap said fishermen were not satisfied with Mr. Duterte’s promise that he would address China more forcefully “in due time.” He argued that the tribunal’s ruling should be enforced immediately.Mr. Hicap said fishermen were not satisfied with Mr. Duterte’s promise that he would address China more forcefully “in due time.” He argued that the tribunal’s ruling should be enforced immediately.
“Now more than ever is the time to resolve this dispute,” he said.“Now more than ever is the time to resolve this dispute,” he said.
On the domestic front, Mr. Duterte said he would continue with his drug war, which the police estimate has left more than 6,600 people dead, although rights groups say the toll is much higher. The campaign is the subject of a preliminary inquiry by the International Criminal Court, from which the Philippines withdrew earlier this year. It is also being investigated by the United Nations Human Rights Council after a vote by member nations this month. On the domestic front, Mr. Duterte said he would continue with his drug war, although rights groups say the toll is much higher. The campaign is the subject of a preliminary inquiry by the International Criminal Court, from which the Philippines withdrew earlier this year. It is also being investigated by the United Nations Human Rights Council after a vote by member nations this month.
Mr. Duterte joked that he was prepared to go to jail over the drug war deaths as long as he had a “comfortable cell” and “unlimited” conjugal visits.Mr. Duterte joked that he was prepared to go to jail over the drug war deaths as long as he had a “comfortable cell” and “unlimited” conjugal visits.
He also said that police officers and soldiers who were “unjustly sued” for carrying out his orders would receive free legal assistance. He did not mention the conviction late last year of three police officers in the murder of a teenager they had mistakenly identified as a drug dealer.He also said that police officers and soldiers who were “unjustly sued” for carrying out his orders would receive free legal assistance. He did not mention the conviction late last year of three police officers in the murder of a teenager they had mistakenly identified as a drug dealer.
Sitting in the audience as Mr. Duterte spoke was Vice President Leni Robredo, who was one of dozens of people, including several senators and other members of the political opposition, charged with sedition and other offenses last week. They are accused of engaging in a plot to weaken Mr. Duterte’s government — charges they describe as an attempt by the president to intimidate his critics into silence.
The large crowd of protesters that was expected during Mr. Duterte’s speech was thinned somewhat by a heavy downpour, but thousands remained on the streets near Congress. They included students, leftists and nuns, many of whom carried posters with anti-Duterte slogans and burned effigies of the president. They later dispersed peacefully.The large crowd of protesters that was expected during Mr. Duterte’s speech was thinned somewhat by a heavy downpour, but thousands remained on the streets near Congress. They included students, leftists and nuns, many of whom carried posters with anti-Duterte slogans and burned effigies of the president. They later dispersed peacefully.