In the Art of War, the Author Sun Tzu once said – “If you
know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred
battles.” If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gaines you
will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will
succumb in every battle.”
And in the battle for the West Philippine Sea, it seems that
we need to be pushed to the brink of war to realize that we have lost this
maritime war even before it started – for we don’t know the enemy, and we even
don’t know ourselves.
But only if we let it continue that way. Only if we let our presently
politicized beliefs on this seemingly endless battle of moves and countermoves
shadow a century-old battle cry that is dying a natural death while in an ongoing
seemingly fairy tale of Independence:
Our nationalism as a Filipino people.
It seems that no new frigates, new FA-50s or even additional
troops will ever put a plot twist on this ‘beating-around-the-bush’ game with
China.
Mr. Armando Herendia, a member of the DefensePH forums puts
it in perspective:
“Everyone’s up in arms about Panatag, and fearful of how we
cannot confront the Chinese, and blaming the Americans for not stepping in.
Yet, where are the silly supporters who say the Americans
can’t interfere with Philippine affairs? Where are those people now?
Duterte is blaming the Americans for not stepping in – yet wasn’t
he the one also saying “Putang Ina,” insulting a sitting president, and telling
them to get out of the country, and downgrading EDCA?”
Yet no
one remembers, PNoy in 2012, using the newly commissioned Gregorio Del Pilar
(PF-15) - an Excess Defense Article from America - confronts the Chinese at
Panatag. And he does this without any clearance or permission from the
Americans. He does so in such a manner that the US has to step in to broker a
negotiation, and both sides back off. The Chinese later BREAK their word and
return to occupy Panatag.”
And
there will be those who are struck with intense political bias that this
President did nothing unlike the present administration. But come to think of
it – is this a question of a political bias, or a question of a wretched
consciousness that this country’s wounds are caused not by its politicians, but
by people who refuse to believe in the concept of ‘being my brother’s keeper’ -
that only by uniting together as one race, regardless of social class, age, belief and
political beliefs are we to move forward as a nation?
Mr.
Herendia furthermore, elaborates a more intricate string of ironies:
“Yet this Philippine Administration is asking why the Americans didn't
block the Chinese? Where is the "Independent Foreign Policy free from the
Americans?"
Hey Duterte here's a clue - you tell people you don't need
help and in a very rude and undiplomatic manner, don't sit there wondering why
no one is helping you.
The reality is this - Panatag is 150 nautical miles from
Luzon, less than a day's boat ride. In any other nation-state, this is
considered a territorial integrity issue.
That is a Philippine EEZ, and those
are Philippine resources being blockaded and yes, stolen, by Chinese national
fishing fleets. And it is a Philippine shoal that is about to be occupied by a
Chinese national structure.
The answer is very simple - put a Presence Out
There. Stop them from building. Don't sit there and blame the Americans for not
having raised a finger - you were the ones that kicked them out, called their
sitting President a Son of a B---- and downgraded previously agreed upon
arrangements.
You want to complain about previous administrations doing
nothing? The last Administration actively confronted the Chinese on the high
seas and also won you an International Court Decision.
What happens after PNoy?
The people who broke their word and took back the Shoal are now holding a 3
BILLION DOLLAR CREDIT LINE and 9 BILLION SOFT LOAD MARKER over the the
Philippines.
Sino kaya ngayon dapat umaangal nang kapal nang mukha?”
“If you know neither
the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
Sun Tzu was right – if we have forgotten who the real enemy
is, then certainly in the near uncertain future Panatag Shoal – which is just
stone’s throw away from Palawan and Palawan itself, will be helplessly overrun
in our own backyard. If we do not change our consciousness that our faith must
not solely lie on politicians who can deliver multi-billion dollar military
reform packages and fearless, unrelenting, and firm orations, then we can play
hide and seek tactics forever – but the endgame is that we are all losers as a
Filipino race even before we can send ships to our claims for sovereignty.
We just simply can’t accept and come to realize that we are the
problem – for if we come to realize this, we will all refuse to accept that it
is the problem and we all haplessly watch China tiptoe on our waters - for not everybody cares. Not everyone listens. Not everyone wants to discuss. Not everyone wants to agree to disagree. Not everyone wants to dissent.
Not everyone wants to face the ugly truth.
Now, let me ask again – who really is the problem?
"The first step in resolving a problem is acknowledging that there is one."
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