KIM LENARD G.

EGUIRON

AB POLSCI

CONTEMPORARY WORLD

SOVEREIGNTY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE SIGNIFICANT FOR THE FILIPINO PEOPLE SINCE THE LAST WAR
IN THE 1940’S. TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM OR TO KEEP THE PEACE, THAT IS THE CONTESTATION UNDER
THE CONTEMPORARY BODIES THAT GOVERN THE LIVES OF THE MODERN FILIPINO PEOPLE.

THE TWO PART DOCUMENTARY THAT EXPANDS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONFLICT GAVE US A
VERY DETAILED EXPLANATION ON WHY BOTH COUNTRIES ENDED UP IN A DIPLOMATIC WAR THAT
THEN TURNED INTO AN AGGRESSIVE TUG OF WAR FOR JURISDICTION. BOTH COUNTRIES SEEMED TO
BE HIGHLY DESPERATE TO GET A HOLD OF THE ISLANDS AS THEY ARE KNOWN TO BE VERY RICH IN
RESOURCE. DESPITE THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA TRUMPING CHINA’S
CLAIMS, WE CAN STILL SEE THEM BEING PERSISTENT AS THEY COLLECTIVELY UPHOLD THEIR SO CALLED
HISTORICAL RIGHTS OVER THE ISLANDS. IN THIS OCCASION THEN, ONE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT NO
WIDESCALE CLEANSING OUGHT TO BE DONE BY THE CHINESE FORCES IN ORDER TO PERMANENTLY
LEAVE OUR PEOPLE FISHING IN COLD BLOOD.

THE DOCUMENTARY DOES A GREAT JOB IN HIGHLIGHTING BOTH THE STRUGGLES AND THE
COMMUNAL CULTURE OF OUR FISHERFOLK. IT WAS INFORMATIVE IN THE SENSE THAT IT WAS
DIRECTLY INTERACTIVE. BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, CHINA IS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE, THIS
MIGHT BE A REFLECTION OF THE COUNTRY’S INSECURITY TOWARDS THE WEST AND IT MIGHT BE THE
REASON WHY THEY ARE ADAPTING A FORM OF MODERN DAY IMPERIALIST TACTIC IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE SECURITY AND SELF-ESTEEM FOR ITS PEOPLE. REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER REASON THEY
MAY HAVE FOR ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING OUR LANDS, IT IS STILL A NO-BRAINER FOR US AND THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO REALIZE THAT THESE ENCROACHMENT ON OUR PEOPLE’S RIGHTS
ONLY BENEFITS CHINA AND IT DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY INTEND TO PROVIDE US ANY VIABLE OR
EQUITABLE COMPENSATION FOR THE DAMAGES THAT IT HAS DONE TO OUR REEFS. BY THE END OF
THE DAY, WE OUGHT TO CONTEMPLATE ON WHETHER OR NOT RADICAL ACTION BE IMPOSED IN THE
OCCASION WHEREIN DIPLOMACY FAILS.