Vice President Sara Duterte said on Monday, during a conversation with overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, that Philippine forces are “just a pinky” compared to China, which she described as a fist or even a whole arm. The remarks were made in the context of the Philippines’ ongoing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea. The comments drew criticism from Palace officials. Palace press officer Claire Castro spoke to reporters on Tuesday in Malacañang Palace, urging Filipinos not to be misled by “Manchurian candidates” and to remain united. “Even though we are a small country, if every Filipino is united, no one can defeat the courage and valor of a true Filipino,” Castro said. She added that a leader should neither retreat nor surrender and that love for the country should not be divided. Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard’s West Philippine Sea operations, also condemned the Vice President’s remarks. In a Facebook post, Tarriela said the Vice President’s comparison of Philippine forces to a “pinky” was a repeat of a message he had seen from the Chinese Embassy in 2019, 2020, and 2021. He cited a statement by Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan on October 15, 2023, in which the ambassador said, “If we want to use force, we may easily win.” Tarriela argued that the defeatist mindset has persisted for six years and that China’s presence in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has grown. Tarriela also referenced international law, noting the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration award that upheld Philippine claims in the South China Sea, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He said that the Philippines’ allies and the transparency of its actions demonstrate that the country is not abandoning its defense posture. The Vice President’s remarks and the subsequent responses highlight the heightened sensitivity surrounding the Philippines’ maritime claims and the broader geopolitical tensions in the region.
Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune