‘No Need To Go To War To Assert

Claims Over West Philippine Sea’

Written by Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan, and posted on the One News Website on
Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Presentation and reporting by Aaron Cagampang

Duterte admitted that he was “inutile” with regards to going
to war with China over the disputed territory.
● “Now, plenty of critics…claim about nothing has been done to retake
forcefully or physically the South China Sea. Alam mo, unless we
are prepared to go to war, I would suggest that we better just call
off and treat this...with diplomatic endeavors. China is claiming it.
We are claiming it. China has the arms, we do not have it,”
● “...They are in possession of the property...it has nothing to do with
the Philippine laws of property...So what can we do? We have to go
to war and I cannot afford it. Maybe some other president can, but I
cannot. Inutil ako diyan, sabihin ko sa inyo. And I’m willing to admit
it. Talagang inutil ako diyan. Wala akong magawa...the moment I
send my Marines there at the coastal shores of Palawan, tinamaan
ng cruise missile lahat iyan. Hindi pa nga naka-set sail iyan eh
sabog na,”
What is the Spratly Islands Dispute? Why is it disputed?

Features in the Spratly archipelago held by the

Philippines1:

1. Northeast Cay (Filipino: Parola),

2. Thitu Island (Pag-asa),
3. Loaita Cay (Panata),
4. Loaita Island (Kota),
5. West York Island (Likas),
6. Flat Island (Patag),
7. Nanshan Island (Lawak),
8. Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin),
9. Commodore Reef (Rizal).
“Being weak is weakness enough, but to let our adversary
know how helpless we are will discourage even our allies to
stand by our side.”
● ”We are not inutile as a country”
● Strength as part of the international
community
● Sun Tzu: being weak is bad enough, but
to tell it to your enemy discourages even
your allies
“Detestastable and unacceptable”

● Duterte’s “subservience and surrender to

China is detestable, unacceptable.”
● “He does not speak for me and many other
Filipinos who see in this defeatist attitude
cowardice towards the aggressor,”
“If you’re being bullied, you must stand up to that bully or
else the more you will be bullied,”

● “Raising China too much”

● “I feel hurt when he said that – that we don’t have
arms and all – but we don’t have to go to war, we
can still assert our rights,”
● “I don’t know why he has to ingratiate himself to
China all the time,” - perhaps to get a “discount”
● Duterte must not concede Scarborough Shoal
● “I don’t know what his strategy is, but if you’re
being bullied, you must stand up to that bully or
else the more you will be bullied,”
“We already knew from the start that he leaned towards
China and wants a non-confrontational stance.”

● Unsurprising, as “we already knew from the

start that he leaned towards China and wants a
non-confrontational stance.”
● Not that worrisome “so long as we do not
abrogate or renounce any of our rights under
international law including the legal victory”
“A better word than inutile could have been used.”
● “Delivering a formal address is not one of the
strengths of the President. He’s more adept
and very convincing when it comes to
speaking extemporaneously,”
● “Secretary Locsin will not allow us to be
trampled upon by...any other country. That’s
why I am confident that we will stand our
ground as far as the issue of the West
Philippine Sea or South China Sea is
concerned”
● A better word than inutile could have been
used
“A country does not need to got to war to assert its
sovereign rights.”
● There are lawful and peaceful means for a country
to assert its sovereignty.
● Other countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and
Indonesia asserting their sovereignty without
starting a war with China
● War itself is illegal as a way of enforcing a ruling
or resolving an international dispute
● China does not have the Philippines’ EEZ
● The President’s statement is in fact contradicted
by the actions other nations such as the US, UK,
France, and Australia
“The world agrees. China is in illegal possession of some
features, not entirety of WPS. Phil military still patrols
WPS,”

● “We already have legal title to WPS” because

“we won”
● “The world agrees. China is in illegal possession
of some features, not entirety of WPS. Phil
military still patrols WPS,”
Why I chose to share this? Its closeness to home.
● During COVID-19, some things changed, while
others didn’t, or became worse.
● Cold War level buildup in the South China Sea,
specifically the one between China and America, at
both the military and diplomatic level
● As Filipinos, we musn’t be willing victims in the face
of aggression; we must protect what’s ours, even,
especially if our president does not. We must side
with other democratic nations who also respect
international law
● It may be what’s needed to shape the future away
from even more suffering and destruction.
Sources
Article: Macairan, E., & Romero, P. (2020, July 29). 'No Need To Go To War
To Assert Claims Over West Philippine Sea'. Retrieved July 29, 2020, from
https://www.onenews.ph/no-need-to-go-to-war-to-assert-claims-over-west-
philippine-sea

Vuving, A. L. (2016, May 09). South China Sea: Who Occupies What in the
1:

Spratlys? Retrieved July 29, 2020, from

https://thediplomat.com/2016/05/south-china-sea-who-claims-what-in-the-spratly
s/

Pompeo says Beijing claims in South China Sea 'unlawful'. (2020, July 14).
Retrieved August 03, 2020, from
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/pompeo-says-beijing-claims-in-
south-china-sea-unlawful
Sources
Mills, W. D. (2020, July 24). The Cod Wars and Today: Lessons from an Almost
War. Retrieved August 03, 2020, from
http://cimsec.org/the-cod-wars-and-today-lessons-from-an-almost-war/44945

Yoon, S. (2020, May 24). Welcome to the Coronavirus Cold War. Retrieved July 29,
2020, from
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/welcome-coronavirus-cold-war-156726

Pickrell, R. (2020, July 17). The US Navy again has 2 carrier strike groups in the
South China Sea as the US and China trade jabs. Retrieved July 29, 2020, from
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-two-carrier-strike-groups-south-china-
sea-again-2020-7
Sources
Mills, W. D. (2020, July 24). The Cod Wars and Today: Lessons from an Almost
War. Retrieved August 03, 2020, from
http://cimsec.org/the-cod-wars-and-today-lessons-from-an-almost-war/44945

Yoon, S. (2020, May 24). Welcome to the Coronavirus Cold War. Retrieved July 29,
2020, from
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/welcome-coronavirus-cold-war-156726

Pickrell, R. (2020, July 17). The US Navy again has 2 carrier strike groups in the
South China Sea as the US and China trade jabs. Retrieved July 29, 2020, from
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-two-carrier-strike-groups-south-china-
sea-again-2020-7
Image Sources
Slide 2:
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/duterte-scores-publics-hysterical-res
ponse-to-ncov-theres-no-need-for-it/ar-BBZBour

Slide 3: 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spratly_Islands

2: https://www.rfa.org/english/commentaries/line-07162015121333.html

Slide 4 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/319479/why-lacson-will-never-forget-arroyo

Slide 5 https://kikopangilinan.com/tag/cpp-npa/

Slide6 https://rappler.com/nation/gordon-says-dirty-money-entered-philippines
Image Sources
Slide 7: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/30/20/double-standard-angara-
decries-cease-and-desist-order-vs-abs-cbns-tv-plus-channels-sky-direct

Slide 8: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Sotto

Slide 9:
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/06/17/2021558/carpio-join-sc-petition-
vs-anti-terrorism-bill-if-signed-law
Image Sources
Slide 10:
https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/12/09/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/aquino-hil
bay-agreed-to-keep-water-arbitration-suits-secret/662691/

Slide 11:

1:
https://www.onenews.ph/no-need-to-go-to-war-to-assert-claims-over-west-philippin
e-sea

2: https://journal.com.ph/news/nation/diplomatic-passports-cancelled